Visual object working memory function and clinical symptoms in schizophrenia.

Objective: The presence of working memory deficits suggests abnormalities of prefrontal cortex (PFC) in schizophrenia. Although much is known about spatial working memory deficits in schizophrenia, including its potential as a phenotypic marker, it is unclear whether object working memory is similarly affected. Our goal was to examine nonspatial, object working memory function in relation to clinical symptoms.

Spatial selective attention and inhibition in schizophrenia patients during acute psychosis and at 4-month follow-up.

Background: Attentional abnormalities may lie at the core of cognitive symptoms in schizophrenia, but it is unclear how they relate to symptoms. The major aim of our study was to understand the relation between spatial attention and clinical symptoms from acute to chronic state.

Methods: Thirty-six acutely psychotic schizophrenia patients and 42 matched control subjects were assessed on three spatial attention measures: target location detection, interference (concurrent inhibition of distractor), and negative priming (subsequent inhibition of distractor).