Abstract
AbstractA number of investigators have found perceptual deficits in schizophrenic subjects. It has also been indicated that those with schizophrenia suffer from reduced attention. This raises the possibility that their perceptual deficits may wholly or in part reflect attentional effects. The present study used computer simulations to examine the potential effects of inattention on performance measures determined with three psychophysical methods: the Two Alternative Forced Choice (2-AFC) Staircase Method, the Two Alternative Forced Choice (2-AFC) Fixed Stimuli Method, and the Yes/No Method. It is shown that both 2-AFC methods are susceptible to attentional effects but, in contrast, the Yes/No Method may allow for the differentiation of attentional effects from sensory sensitivity and subjective criterion effects. The simulations indicate that it may be possible to control for attention effects by using Yes/No Method in combination to a 2AFC method.
Highlights
IntroductionA number of investigators have suggested that schizophrenia is associated with sensory deficits, with deficiencies in the area of visual perception (Schwartz et al, 1999; Keri et al, 2000; Butler et al, 2001, 2005; Doninger et al, 2002; Foxe et al, 2001; Schechter et al, 2003; Slaghuis, 2004; Kim et al, 2006; Kurylo et al, 2007; Kimhy et al, 2007; Viertio et al, 2007)
It is widely accepted that schizophrenia is associated with cognitive abnormalities
In the present investigation we explore this latter issue by modeling the effect of lapses of attention on stimulus detection threshold in three different commonly used psychophysical research methods: (1), the Two Alternative Forced Choice (2-AFC) Staircase Method, (2), the Method of Two Alternative Forced Choice (2-AFC) Fixed Stimuli, and (3), the Yes/No Method
Summary
A number of investigators have suggested that schizophrenia is associated with sensory deficits, with deficiencies in the area of visual perception (Schwartz et al, 1999; Keri et al, 2000; Butler et al, 2001, 2005; Doninger et al, 2002; Foxe et al, 2001; Schechter et al, 2003; Slaghuis, 2004; Kim et al, 2006; Kurylo et al, 2007; Kimhy et al, 2007; Viertio et al, 2007). This, raises the question of if, or to what extent, the observed sensory deficits might reflect underlying attentional problems
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