Binocular locus of prior time information effect in schizophrenia.

Abstract

Schizophrenics and alcoholic controls estimated the duration of a single dark dot, which followed an auditory warning signal of variable duration that functioned as foreperiod duration. The effect of foreperiod duration on time estimation was an increasing one for both schizophrenics and alcoholics alike. Elimination of such foreperiod effect by prior time information in terms of correlation between pitch of the warning signal and foreperiod duration, was shown to be unique to schizophrenics. However, this prior time information effect was demonstrated only when the dot was viewed binocularly, not when viewed monocularly. This binocular locus of time expectancy in schizophrenia reflects the tendency toward spatialization of prior time information.