TY  - JOUR
T1  - MOtion perception in schizophrenia
AU  - Chen Y, Palafox GP, Nakayama K, Levy DL, Matthysse S, Holzman PS
Y1  - 1999/02/01
N1  - 10.1001/archpsyc.56.2.149
JO  - Archives of General Psychiatry
SP  - 149
EP  - 154
VL  - 56
IS  - 2
N2  - Background 
    Eye-tracking dysfunction has been found in many patients with schizophrenia and in about 40% of their first-degree biological relatives. We hypothesized that a deficit in motion processing is associated with eye-tracking dysfunction because both motion signals and the brain regions responsible for processing motion signals are implicated in the generation of smooth pursuit. We examined several aspects of visual perception, including motion perception, in patients with schizophrenia.Methods 
    To evaluate motion perception, contrast sensitivity for velocity discrimination was measured in patients with schizophrenia (n=15) and normal control subjects (n=18). Contrast sensitivities for orientation discrimination and contrast detection were measured as control tasks.Results 
    Patients with schizophrenia showed significantly lower contrast sensitivity (ie, higher thresholds) than normal controls for the discrimination of small velocity differences (eg, 11 vs 9 degrees/s). This reduction in contrast sensitivity was severe (up to 10-fold) in about 40% of the patients. No group differences were found on the other tasks.Conclusion 
    The discrimination of small velocity differences is impaired in a subgroup of patients with schizophrenia.
SN  - 0003-990X
M3  - doi: 10.1001/archpsyc.56.2.149
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.56.2.149
ER  -