Auditory stream segregation impairments in schizophrenia.
We used behavior and event-related potentials (ERPs) to examine auditory stream segregation in people with schizophrenia and control participants. During each trial, a context pattern was presented, consisting of low (A) and high (B) tones and silence (-) in a repeating ABA- pattern, with a frequency separation (Δf) of 3, 6, or 12 semitones. Next, a test ABA-pattern was presented that always had a 6-semitone Δf. Larger Δf during the context resulted in more perception of two streams and larger N1 and P2 ERPs, but less perception of two streams during the test pattern. These effects of Δf were smaller in schizophrenia. Individuals with schizophrenia also showed a reduced effect of prior perceptual judgments. Overall, the findings demonstrate that people with schizophrenia have abnormalities in segregating sounds. These abnormalities result from difficulties utilizing frequency cues in addition to reduced temporal context effects.
Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
David M
DM
Weintraub
Erin M
EM
Ramage
Griffin
G
Sutton
Erik
E
Ringdahl
Aaron
A
Boren
Amanda C
AC
Pasinski
Nick
N
Thaler
Michael
M
Haderlie
Daniel N
DN
Allen
Joel S
JS
Snyder
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001307:Auditory Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D003710:Demography; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents