Saccadic eye movements, schizotypy, and the role of neuroticism.
We investigated the relationships of anti- and prosaccades with psychometric schizotypy. One aim was to estimate the role of negative emotionality and general psychopathology (i.e. neuroticism) in this relationship. 115 non-clinical volunteers underwent infrared oculographic assessment of antisaccades and prosaccades. Schizotypy was assessed with the Personality Syndrome Questionnaire (PSQ-80), the Rust Inventory of Schizotypal Cognitions (RISC), and Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Revised (EPQ-R) Psychoticism. Higher positive schizotypy scores predicted increased antisaccade errors (RISC) and greater prosaccade spatial error (PSQ-80 Unreality). Greater thought disorder (PSQ-80 Activity) predicted shorter prosaccade latencies. EPQ-R Neuroticism was substantially correlated with schizotypy but was not related to saccadic measures and did not account for their relationship with schizotypy. We conclude that saccadic performance patterns in schizotypy are not due to negative emotionality or general psychopathology, but specific to schizophrenia spectrum signs and symptoms.
Ettinger
Ulrich
U
Department of Psychology, McGill University, Stewart Biological Sciences Building, 1205 Dr Penfield Ave, Montreal, Que., Canada H3A 1B1. ulrich@ego.psych.mcgill.ca
Kumari
Veena
V
Crawford
Trevor J
TJ
Flak
Vanja
V
Sharma
Tonmoy
T
Davis
Robert E
RE
Corr
Philip J
PJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods; D012438:Saccades / Q000502:physiology*; D012569:Schizotypal Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index