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The relationship between smooth pursuit performance, motion perception and sustained visual attention in patients with schizophrenia and normal controls

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 1997

T. A. STUVE ,
L. FRIEDMAN ,
J. A. JESBERGER ,
G. C. GILMORE ,
M. E. STRAUSS  and
H. Y. MELTZER
T. A. STUVE
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology and the Eye Movement Laboratory in the Department of Psychiatry, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
L. FRIEDMAN
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology and the Eye Movement Laboratory in the Department of Psychiatry, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
J. A. JESBERGER
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology and the Eye Movement Laboratory in the Department of Psychiatry, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
G. C. GILMORE
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology and the Eye Movement Laboratory in the Department of Psychiatry, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
M. E. STRAUSS
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology and the Eye Movement Laboratory in the Department of Psychiatry, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
H. Y. MELTZER
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology and the Eye Movement Laboratory in the Department of Psychiatry, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
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Abstract

Background. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that low smooth pursuit gain in schizophrenia is related to an abnormality in motion perception.

Methods. The subjects were 19 schizophrenics treated with clozapine and 19 controls. In addition to smooth pursuit and motion perception paradigms, sustained attention was also assessed using a continuous performance task (CPT).

Results. In the patient group, there was a statistically significant negative correlation between smooth pursuit gain and motion perception threshold (r =−0·60, P<0·01). This relationship was not secondary to attention deficits as assessed by the CPT.

Conclusions. Our results are consistent with the notion that the smooth pursuit gain deficit is related to a deficit in motion perception rather than in attention. Brain area V5 (also referred to as ‘MT’ in macaque), located in the parieto-occipital region, is known to be critically important both for motion perception and gain. Thus, our results point to an abnormality in this area in schizophrenia.

Type
Research Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 27 , Issue 1 , January 1997 , pp. 143 - 152
Copyright
© 1997 Cambridge University Press

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