Facilitation of Relational Learning in Schizophrenia

Behavioral Sciences

Elena A. Spieker¹  Jacqueline A. Griego¹  Robert S. Astur²  Henry H. Holcomb¹ 

[1] Department of Psychiatry, Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, P.O. Box 21247, Baltimore, MD 21228, USA; E-Mails:;Department of Psychology, University of Connecticut Waterbury, 99 East Main Street Waterbury, CT 06702, USA; E-Mail:

关键词: schizophrenia;    relational learning;    training;    transverse patterning;    hippocampus;    medial temporal lobe;    memory;   

DOI  :  10.3390/bs3020206

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Abnormal hippocampal function likely contributes to relational learning deficits observed in schizophrenia. It is unknown whether these deficits can be attenuated with a training intervention. The purpose of this project was to determine if training could facilitate relational learning of the transverse patterning task in schizophrenia. Healthy and schizophrenia subjects completed a version of transverse patterning that incorporated training. The majority of subjects with schizophrenia successfully learned transverse patterning when provided with training. A subgroup (approximately 25%) of schizophrenia subjects showed no tendency to learn with training. These results were replicated in a second study with a separate cohort and different stimuli. This study illustrates that relational learning of the transverse patterning can be facilitated in schizophrenia with training.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2013 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.