title: Altered perception of apparent motion in schizophrenia spectrum disorder.
abstract: Apparent motion (AM), the Gestalt perception of motion in the absence of physical motion, was used to study perceptual organization and neurocognitive binding in schizophrenia. Associations between AM perception and psychopathology as well as meaningful subgroups were sought. Circular and stroboscopic AM stimuli were presented to 68 schizophrenia spectrum patients and healthy participants. Psychopathology was measured using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Psychopathology was related to AM perception differentially: Positive and disorganization symptoms were linked to reduced gestalt stability; negative symptoms, excitement and depression had opposite regression weights. Dimensions of psychopathology thus have opposing effects on gestalt perception. It was generally found that AM perception was closely associated with psychopathology. No difference existed between patients and controls, but two latent classes were found. Class A members who had low levels of AM stability made up the majority of inpatients and control subjects; such participants were generally young and male, with short reaction times. Class B typically contained outpatients and some control subjects; participants in class B were older and showed longer reaction times. Hence AM perceptual dysfunctions are not specific for schizophrenia, yet AM may be a promising stage marker.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital of Psychiatry, University of Bern, Laupenstrasse 49, CH-3010 Bern, Switzerland. tschacher@spk.unibe.ch
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tschacher
authors.forename: Priscilla
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dubouloz
authors.forename: Rahel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Meier
authors.forename: Uli
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Junghan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D015415:Biomarkers; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D035061:Control Groups; D005260:Female; D005556:Form Perception / Q000502:physiology; D005863:Gestalt Theory; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008959:Models, Neurological; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009039:Motion Perception / Q000502:physiology; D010468:Perceptual Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers