Abstract
ObjectiveIn the present study the relationship between behavioural adjustment following cognitive conflict and schizotypy was investigated using a Stroop colour naming paradigm. Previous research has found deficits with behavioural adjustment in schizophrenia patients. Based on these findings, we hypothesized that individual differences in schizotypy, a personality trait reflecting the subclinical expression of the schizophrenia phenotype, would be associated with behavioural adjustment. Additionally, we investigated whether such a relationship would be explained by individual differences in neuroticism, a non-specific measure of negative trait emotionality known to be correlated with schizotypy.Methods106 healthy volunteers (mean age: 25.1, 60% females) took part. Post-conflict adjustment was measured in a computer-based version of the Stroop paradigm. Schizotypy was assessed using the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ) and Neuroticism using the NEO-FFI.ResultsWe found a negative correlation between schizotypy and post-conflict adjustment (r = −.30, p<.01); this relationship remained significant when controlling for effects of neuroticism. Regression analysis revealed that particularly the subscale No Close Friends drove the effect.ConclusionPrevious findings of deficits in cognitive control in schizophrenia patients were extended to the subclinical personality expression of the schizophrenia phenotype and found to be specific to schizotypal traits over and above the effects of negative emotionality.
Highlights
Patients with schizophrenia show impairments in conflict monitoring, error detection and behavioural adjustment following high conflict or errors [1,2,3]
We found a negative correlation between schizotypy and post-conflict adjustment (r = 2.30, p,.01); this relationship remained significant when controlling for effects of neuroticism
Regression analysis revealed that the subscale No Close Friends drove the effect
Summary
Patients with schizophrenia show impairments in conflict monitoring, error detection and behavioural adjustment following high conflict or errors [1,2,3]. The processes underlying such deficits have been termed cognitive control, e.g. The basic finding - the Stroop effect – reflects the fact that subjects take longer to name the ink colour in incongruent trials than in congruent trials This effect is thought to result from interference between word reading, which is considered as an automatic, overlearned process and colour naming, which is thought to be a volitional process. Interference control refers to the inhibition of task-irrelevant distractors or internal stimuli that are interfering with the current task
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