Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t7czq Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-20T07:02:45.671Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Reaction Time Indices of Schizophrenic Motivation: A Cross-Cultural Replication

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

Gerald Rosenbaum
Gerald Rosenbaum*
Affiliation:
Wayne State University and Lafayette Clinic, Detroit, Michigan
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

Consistent decrements in schizophrenic performance on a reaction time (RT) task obtained by a number of investigators indicate that RT procedures yield reliable indices of schizophrenic deficits in attention (1, 2, 10), motivation (3), preparatory set (8), and psychomotor function (4). In previous studies (6, 7), the writer has presented evidence that these deficits may be attributable to impaired social motivation, in that these RT disturbances can be eliminated in most schizophrenics by activating biological motivation through shocks to the reacting finger. Older, more disorganized patients were unable to improve, however, even with shock motivation. Systematic comparisons of older and younger schizophrenic patients with and without ground privilege status, resulted in the finding that reduced social motivation, lessened reactivity to shock stimulation, and inability to cope with unpredictable anxiety cues constituted relatively independent dimensions of schizophrenic deficit in RT.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 113 , Issue 498 , May 1967 , pp. 537 - 541
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1967 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Hall, K. R. L., and Stride, E. (1954). “Some factors affecting reaction times to auditory stimuli in mental patients.” J. ment. Sci., 100, 462–477.Google Scholar
2. Huston, P. E., and Senf, , Rita, (1952). “Psycho-pathology of schizophrenia and depression: I. Effect of amytal and amphetamine sulfate on level and maintenance of attention.” Amer. J. Psychiat., 109, 131–138.Google Scholar
3. Karras, A. (1962). “The effects of reinforcement and arousal on the psychomotor performance of chronic schizophrenics.” J. abnorm. soc. Psychol., 65, 104–111.Google Scholar
4. King, H. E. (1954). Psychomotor Aspects of Mental Disease. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard Univ. Press.Google Scholar
5. Opler, M. K., and Singer, J. L. (1956). “Ethnic behavior and psychopathology: Italian and Irish.” Int. J. soc. Psychiat., 2, 11–22.Google Scholar
6. Rosenbaum, G., Grisell, J. L., and Mackavey, W. R. (1957). “The relationship of age and privilege status to reaction time indices of schizophrenic motivation.” J. abnorm. soc. Psychol., 55, 202–207.Google Scholar
7. Rosenbaum, G., Mackavey, W. R., and Grisell, J. L. (1957). “Effect of biological and social motivation on schizophrenic reaction time.” Ibid., 54, 364–368.Google Scholar
8. Shakow, D. (1962). “Segmental set.” A.M.A. Arch. gen. Psychiat. (Chic.), 6, 1–17.Google Scholar
9. Teichner, W. H. (1954). “Recent studies of simple reaction time.” Psychol. Bull., 51, 128–149.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10. Tizard, J., and Venables, P. H. (1956). “Reaction time responses by schizophrenics, mental defectives and normal adults.” Amer. J. Psychiat., 112, 803–807.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
11. Zahn, T. Shakow, D., and Rosenthal, D. (1961). “Reaction time in schizophrenic and normal subjects as a function of preparatory and intertrial intervals.” J. nerv. ment. Dis., 133, 283–287.Google Scholar
Submit a response

eLetters

No eLetters have been published for this article.