The cognitive neuropsychology of auditory hallucinations: a parallel auditory pathways framework.
Auditory hallucinations are generally defined as false perceptions. Recent developments in auditory neuroscience have rapidly increased our understanding of normal auditory perception revealing (partially) separate pathways for the identification ("what") and localization ("where") of auditory objects. The current review offers a reexamination of the nature of auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia using this object-based framework. First, the structural and functional organization of auditory what and where pathways is briefly described. Then, using recent functional neuroimaging data from healthy subjects and patients with schizophrenia, key phenomenological features of hallucinations are linked to abnormal processing both within and between these pathways. Finally, current cognitive explanations of hallucinations, based on intrusive cognitions and impaired source memory, are briefly outlined and set within this framework to provide an integrated cognitive neuropsychological model of auditory hallucinations.
School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, The University of Western Australia and Centre for Clinical Research in Neuropsychiatry, Graylands Hospital, Australia, Mail Bag No 1, Claremont, Perth, 6910, Australia. johanna.badcock@uwa.edu.au
Johanna C
JC
Badcock
D001306:Auditory Pathways / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001308:Auditory Perceptual Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D032882:Comprehension / Q000502:physiology; D003210:Concept Formation / Q000502:physiology; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000502:physiology; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000503:physiopathology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D013017:Sound Localization / Q000502:physiology