Latent inhibition as a function of schizotypality and gender: implications for schizophrenia.
In three within-subject experiments, we demonstrated that preexposure to an irrelevant stimulus interfered with performance when that stimulus subsequently predicted the correct location of a target stimulus. This latent inhibition-like effect (LI) was manifest in response time measures, but not errors. As with other related paradigms, LI was a function of an interaction between schizotypy-level and gender. Low schizotypal females and high schizotypal males exhibited significant LI, while high schizotypal females and low schizotypal males failed to produce LI effects. The results, similar to findings with schizophrenic patients, suggest a sexual dimorphism of cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia, particularly in regard to the processing of irrelevant stimuli.
Lubow
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Department of Psychology, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv 69978, Israel. lubow@freud.tau.ac.il
De la Casa
Gonzalo
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008606:Mental Processes; D011930:Reaction Time; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012569:Schizotypal Personality Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology; D012737:Sex Factors; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis