Enhanced semantic priming in schizophrenia: a computer model based on excessive pruning of local connections in association cortex.
BACKGROUND
Many studies have found that people with schizophrenia exhibit abnormally high levels of semantic priming. Post-mortem and neuroimaging studies of schizophrenia suggest a reduction of neuritic processes (dendrites and synapses).


OBJECTIVE
To demonstrate that reductions in neuritic processes can produce excessive priming in patients with schizophrenia.


METHODS
Associative memory was simulated using a computer-based neural network system consisting of two interactive neural groups, one coding for individual memories and the other for the category to which each memory belonged.


RESULTS
Variation of a single parameter determining the density of local connections within the two neuronal groups gave a close approximation to levels of memory access and semantic priming previously reported in normal subjects and in patients with schizophrenia.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that schizophrenia arises from excessive pruning of local connections in association cortex. Its findings shed light on the mechanisms underlying cognitive priming more generally, and how it might emerge developmentally.
Siekmeier
Peter J
PJ
Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts, USA.
Hoffman
Ralph E
RE
D000293:Adolescent; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D006801:Humans; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009415:Nerve Net; D009434:Neural Pathways; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012660:Semantics; D013850:Thinking / Q000502:physiology; D014705:Verbal Behavior