Social Cues Are Difficult for People with Schizophrenia

By Rick Nauert PhD Senior News Editor
Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D.on May 25, 2011

New research finds that impairment in a brain area make it difficult for people with schizophrenia to understand the nonverbal actions of others.

“Misunderstanding social situations and interactions are core deficits in schizophrenia,” said psychologist Dr. Sohee Park of Vanderbilt University. “Our findings may help explain the origins of some of the delusions involving perception and thoughts experienced by those with schizophrenia.”

Researchers found that a particular brain area, the posterior superior temporal sulcus or STS, appears to be implicated in this deficit.

“Using brain imaging together with perceptual testing, we found that a brain area in a neural network involved in perception of social stimuli responds abnormally in individuals with schizophrenia,” said co-author Randolph Blake, Ph.D.

“We found this brain area fails to distinguish genuine biological motion from highly distorted versions of that motion.”

“We have found… that people with schizophrenia tend to ‘see’ living things in randomness and this subjective experience is correlated with an increased activity in the (posterior) STS,” the authors wrote.

“In the case of biological motion perception, these self-generated, false impressions of meaning can have negative social consequences, in that schizophrenia patients may misconstrue the actions or intentions of other people.”

In their experiments, the researchers compared the performance of people with schizophrenia to that of healthy controls on two visual tasks.

One task involved deciding whether or not an animated series of lights depicted the movements of an actor’s body. The second task entailed judging subtle differences in the actions depicted by two similar animations viewed side by side.

On both tasks, people with schizophrenia performed less well than the healthy controls.

Next, the researchers measured brain activity using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) while the subjects—healthy controls and schizophrenia patients—performed a version of the side-by-side task.

Once again, the individuals with schizophrenia performed worse on the task. The researchers were then able to correlate those performance deficits with the brain activity in each person.

Researchers do not yet understand this specific brain area in schizophrenia patients fails to differentiate normal human activity from non-human motion. They speculate that this abnormal brain activation contributes to the patients’ difficulties reading social cues in the actions of others.

Their findings are published in the journal PLoS ONE.

Source: Vanderbilt University

Related News Articles
-->Related Clinical Articles
-->

 

 

Brain and Behavior, General, Genetics, Health-related, LifeHelper, Mental Health and Wellness, Neuropsychology and Neurology, Professional, Psychology, Psychotherapy, Research, Schizophrenia -->

« News Index

SchizophreniaOverview of SchizophreniaSchizophrenia Quick Fact Sheet Schizophrenia Screening Quiz An Introduction to SchizophreniaSchizophrenia SymptomsTypes of SchizophreniaTreatment OverviewSchizophrenia TreatmentLiving with Schizophrenia 13 Schizophrenia MythsTaking Medications for SchizophreniaSide Effects of MedicationsWhat Family Members Need to KnowSchizophrenia and Substance AbuseSchizophrenia and ViolenceWhat Causes Schizophrenia?When Someone Has Schizophrenia Related TopicsSchizophrenia NewsClinical TrialsResearchDSM Codes for Schizophrenia Recommended ResourcesBooksWebsites & Organizations Connect with OthersJoin Our Support GroupRate 'n Review Schizophrenia Medications
Latest ArticlesNew Pilot Program Tries to Help the Mentally Ill Quit SmokingPsychiatric Tales: Eleven Graphic Stories About Mental IllnessMy Schizophrenic Life: The Road to Recovery from Mental IllnessThe Health Impact of Regular Marijuana UseSchizophrenia for DummiesAfter Her Brain Broke: Helping My Daughter Recover Her Sanity

 From Our News BureauThe Drug Metyrapone to Erase Bad Memories? Brain's Response to Sadness Predicts Depression Relapse Animal Study Suggests Omega-3 Lessens Depression, Mania
Just Published...7 Good Reasons to Cry: The Healing Property of TearsHow Healthy Is Your Metaphor?Affirmations for PessimistsHypomania and the Culture of Western Medicine
What's Hot5 Keys to Building Strong Relationships in Any Sphere of LifeadvertisementMost Popular NewsThe Drug Metyrapone to Erase Bad Memories? Brain's Response to Sadness Predicts Depression Relapse Animal Study Suggests Omega-3 Lessens Depression, Mania Postural Problems a Sign of Bipolar Illness? Disaster Plans Should Include Those with Mental Illness U.S. South Has Higher Risk of Cognitive Decline Our Brains Distort Our Own Body Image Music Therapy Aids in Relieving Fibromyalgia Depression's Chemical Imbalance Explained Most Popular Blog PostsThe Link Between Creativity and Eccentricity 7 Good Reasons to Cry: The Healing Property of Tears Atypical Antipsychotic Medications Not a Good Choice for Alzheimer's Helping Others Is Good For Your Health: An Interview with Stephen G. Post, PhD Am I a Defensive Pessimist? When the Rapture Doesn't Happen, How Will Harold Camping React? Bummer, The World Didn’t End: Now What? How to Spot a Narcissist 10 Tips to Enhance Your Love Bonds The Healing Power of Laughter Subscribe to Our Weekly Newsletter

advertisement
Find a Therapist

Users Online: 2718
Join Us Now!
Local GuidesAll Guides
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
DC
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming


  #footer { height:220px; } #foot-mid { margin:0 0 0 40px; } Home • About Us • Advertise with Us • Contact Us
Privacy Policy • Terms of Use • Site Map • Disclaimer/Disclosure • Feeds

Download the Psych Central Toolbar

Copyright © 1992-2011 Psych Central. All rights reserved.
Site last updated: 29 May 2011

Psych Central Professional
Psych Central Answers
Psych Central Blog Network
Psych Central News
Tests & Quizzes
Sanity Score
Forums • NeuroTalk

ADHD
Anxiety
Bipolar
Depression
Schizophrenia
Psychotherapy

We comply
with the
HONcode
standard:
Verify here