Neurophysiological markers of vulnerability to schizophrenia: sensitivity and specificity of specific quantitative eye movement measures.
Eye-tracking deficits in schizophrenic patients and relatives have generated interest in using eye movements to mark schizophrenia liability. Efforts to develop specific quantitative measures have provided insight into the nature of the deficit and suggested what underlying neurophysiological mechanisms are involved. This study used receiver operating characteristic curve analyses to evaluate and compare the sensitivity, specificity, and overall accuracy of predicting disease liability using single and combined specific and global quantitative measures. Results indicate that measures of predictive pursuit and leading saccades significantly increased predictive accuracy compared with traditional global measures. Combining specific measures provided greater predictive accuracy compared with single measures. Implications for the use of specific eye movement measures to define schizophrenia-related phenotypes in genetic studies are discussed.
Avila
Matthew T
MT
Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, University of Maryland, Baltimore 21228, USA. mavila@mprc.umaryland.edu
McMahon
Robert P
RP
Elliott
Amie R
AR
Thaker
Gunvant K
GK
D000328:Adult; D005133:Eye Movements / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005819:Genetic Markers / Q000235:genetics*; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology
D005819:Genetic Markers