A test of the Broen-Storms theory of cognitive deficit in schizophrenia

Abstract

Broen and Storms have developed a popular behavioristic theory to explain schizophrenic thought disorder. It holds that thought disorder results from schizophrenics' having higher drive levels and lower response-strength ceilings than non-schizophrenics. As a result, the strength of appropriate (usually strong) responses is rivaled by that of inappropriate, ordinarily-weak responses. This, in Broen and Storms' theory, is the cause of disorganized, schizophrenic behavior. We tested several hypotheses derived from Broen and Storms' assumptions that schizophrenics have higher drive and lower response strength ceilings than controls in a paired-associates learning study. We did not find support for our hypotheses that schizophrenics would show better early-trials learning than controls, that a presumably drive-inducing threat of pain would enhance early trials learning in schizophrenics or controls, that either threat of pain or schizophrenia would be associated with a low learning asymptote, or that either the positive or negative effects of pain would be accentuated in schizophrenics. The results did not support the theory.