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Schizophrenic children's utilization of images and words in performance of cognitive tasks

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Abstract

Hospitalized schizophrenic (N=15) and nonschizophrenic (N=18) youngsters were compared on measures of verbal and imagery development as well as on four paired-associate learning tasks involving combinations of word and picture stimuli pairs. The results showed the schizophrenic group to be similar to the controls on verbal and full-scale intelligence measures but significantly inferior on performance measures. The schizophrenic group also showed a general disadvantage in paired-associate learning, with a trend toward specific differential difficulty with words as stimulus items. Results suggest the presence of nondominant hemisphere deficit in the target group and also provide weak support for theories of dominant hemisphere dysfunction in schizophrenia.

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Reference notes

  1. Martz, M. J., & Alpert, M. Unpublished data.

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This research was supported by a postdoctoral research fellowship awarded to Dr. Linda Carter by the National Institute of Mental Health (Grant MHO 2875). Dr. Alpert was the sponsor of this training grant.

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Carter, L., Alpert, M. & Stewart, S.M. Schizophrenic children's utilization of images and words in performance of cognitive tasks. J Autism Dev Disord 12, 279–293 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01531373

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