title: Are all forms of feature binding disturbed in schizophrenia? Evidence from a central vs. peripheral distinction in working memory.
abstract: In this study we investigated central and peripheral feature binding in a group of 24 high pre-morbid IQ patients with schizophrenia and 24 healthy controls. In particular, participants were asked to remember specific single (e.g., word, colour) or multiple features (e.g., coloured words) of experimental items with central (coloured word) vs. peripheral (a coloured frame) attributes in a working memory binding task. Performance of the patients was significantly inferior to that of controls, especially when required to remember the peripheral combination of multiple features. Results suggest that patients with schizophrenia may have difficulties in unitizing peripheral features in working memory.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, Psychiatry Unit, University of Foggia, Viale L. Pinto, 1, 71100 Foggia, Italy. m_altamura@virgilio.it
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Altamura
authors.forename: Flavia A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Padalino
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mammarella
authors.forename: Beth
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fairfield
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Balzotti
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Domenico
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Frisullo
authors.forename: Antonello
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bellomo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents