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Smooth-pursuit eye movement dysfunction in schizophrenia: the role of attention and general psychomotor dysfunctions

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Abstract

Smooth-pursuit eye-tracking performance was examined in 100 schizophrenic patients and various control groups under both attention-enhancing and attentiondistracting conditions. The level of attentional demand was varied by introducing a secondary reaction time task that directed attention either toward or away from the visual-tracking target. Distraction from the target led to a significant deterioration of tracking performance in all subjects, which was most pronounced in the group of schizophrenic patients. Attention-enhancement, on the other hand, did not normalize performance in this group. In schizophrenic patients, mainly in the distraction condition, there was a moderate association between performance in tracking and tests presumably measuring prefrontal functions. Tracking accuracy from both conditions was related to general motor performance as measured by the Neurological Evaluation Scale. It was concluded that in schizophrenic patients attentional factors (distraction) may contribute to eye-tracking impairment, and that the impairment may be viewed as an aspect of general motor dysfunctions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Konstanz, Postfach 5560, D-78434, Konstanz, Germany

    Regine Schlenker, Rudolf Cohen, Patrick Berg, Hans Watzl & Petra Werther

  2. Psychiatric Hospital, Haar, Germany

    Werner Hubman & Fritz Mohr

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  1. Regine Schlenker
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  2. Rudolf Cohen
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  3. Patrick Berg
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  4. Werner Hubman
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  5. Fritz Mohr
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  6. Hans Watzl
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  7. Petra Werther
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Schlenker, R., Cohen, R., Berg, P. et al. Smooth-pursuit eye movement dysfunction in schizophrenia: the role of attention and general psychomotor dysfunctions. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Nuerosci 244, 153–160 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02191891

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02191891

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