Changes Due to Noise in the Threshold of Fusion of Paired Light Flashes in Schizophrenics and Normals

Abstract

The threshold inter‐flash interval at which pairs of flashes appear to fuse to produce the appearance of a single flash was measured in schizophrenic and normal subjects under quiet and noise conditions. The results show that while the performance of normal subjects is not affected by noise that of schizophrenics is. The amount of change of threshold due to noise shown by the schizophrenics is closely related to their threshold in quiet. The results are discussed in terms of the influence of a regulatory system on the cortical activity of normal subjects which is lacking in schizophrenics.