title: An examination of relationship between neurological soft signs and neurocognition.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Neurological soft signs (NSS) and cognitive function had been examined in schizophrenia, but their relationship has remained elusive for several years. We examined the relationship between NSS and cognitive functions in the present study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross sectional study was carried out. Subjects were drawn from first degree relatives of schizophrenia patients, admitted as inpatient or attending as an outpatient. Controls were recruited by word of mouth from hospital staff and visitors of hospitalized patients. Those subjects who satisfied the screening process were subjected to Cambridge Neurological Inventory for soft sign assessment and digit span test, paired associate learning test (PALT) and visuo-spatial working memory matrix (VSWMM) for cognitive function assessment. Correlation analysis and structural equation modeling (SEM) was used for analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant negative correlation of primitive reflexes with PALT; of motor coordination with VSWMM, working memory (WM) and cognitive index; of total NSS with WM and cognitive index among first degree relatives. SEM showed that motor soft signs have important negative influence over WM.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current findings indicate that NSS have significant negative effect on cognitive functioning.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, SMS Medical College, Jaipur, India.
authors.forename: Ram Kumar
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Solanki
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, RNT Medical College, Udaipur, India.
authors.forename: Mukesh Kumar
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Swami
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, SMS Medical College, Jaipur, India.
authors.forename: Paramjeet
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001245:Association Learning; D003071:Cognition; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D058068:Endophenotypes; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D012559:Schizophrenia; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D055815:Young Adult