Auditory Recognition Memory, Conscious Recollection, and Executive Function in Patients with Schizophrenia

Abstract

Background: Dual-process models propose that recognition memory (RM) involves two processes: conscious recollection and familiarity-aware memory. Studies investigating RM in schizophrenia report a selective deficit in conscious recollection and intact levels of familiarity-driven RM for stimuli presented in the visual and olfactory domains. It has been suggested that abnormalities in conscious recollection result from a breakdown in frontal strategic memory processes involved in encoding and retrieval and executive functions linked to reality monitoring and decision making. We investigated three predictions arising from these proposals. Firstly, if conscious recollection abnormalities arise from a central impairment, then these abnormalities should not be domain specific. Secondly, if the deficits in conscious recollection arise from a breakdown in executive processes, deficiencies should be correlated with executive dysfunction. Finally, the conscious recollection deficiencies are likely to be more severe in schizophrenia, a condition associated with marked executive dysfunction relative to Major Depressive Disorder, Recurrent (MDDR), in which executive dysfunction is less marked. Methods: The remember/know paradigm was used to investigate RM for voices in three groups: patients with schizophrenia (n = 14), patients with MDDR (n = 16), and normal controls (n = 16). Executive function was assessed using the Wisconsin Card Sorting Task. Results: Patients with schizophrenia made significantly fewer remember responses than normal controls (p < 0.01), despite normal levels of discrimination and familiarity-driven auditory RM. Patients with MDDR did not differ significantly from either normal controls or patients with schizophrenia. Executive dysfunction was limited to the schizophrenia group and was not correlated with conscious recollection deficiencies. Conclusions: Patients with schizophrenia exhibit a deficit in conscious recollection for auditory RM of voices. These findings, when considered alongside remember/know data collected from the same set of patients for olfactory and visual RM, support proposals that abnormalities in conscious recollection stem from a breakdown in central rather than domain-specific processes.

Understanding source monitoring subtypes and their relation to psychosis: a systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…Conversely, no SM deficits have been reported for conditions where self is preserved, such as major depressive disorder. 34 However, deficits in ISM, but not RM, have been also encountered in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder, 47 requiring caution in interpreting SM findings as specific for self-disturbances until replicated results from cross-diagnostic studies are available.…”

Endophenotypes in schizophrenia: A selective review

“…Articles reporting number of categories achieved and perseverative errors in SCZ, REL, and HC were included. Effect sizes were calculated and reported on a total of 41 articles (38 categories achieved: Altshuler et al, 2004; Battaglia et al, 1994; Braff et al, 1991; Cadenhead et al, 1999; Condray et al, 1999; Dieci et al, 1997; Drakeford et al, 2006; Egan, Goldberg et al, 2001; Franke et al, 1992; Glahn et al, 2000; Gold et al, 1997; Goldberg et al, 1998; Gooding et al, 1999; Gooding and Tallent, 2002; Gooding et al, 2001; Haut et al, 1996; Hoff et al, 1992; Hoff et al, 1998; Josman and Katz, 2006; Keefe et al, 1994; Keri et al, 2001; Laurent et al, 2000; Laurent et al, 2001; Merrin et al, 2006; Morrens et al, 2006; Perry and Braff, 1998; Rybakowski and Borkowska, 2002; Seidman et al, 1991; Shum et al, 2004; Snitz et al, 1999; Stratta et al, 2003; Stratta, Daneluzzo, Mattei et al, 1997; Stratta, Daneluzzo, Prosperini et al, 1997; Suhr, 1997; Sullivan et al, 1993; Tallent and Gooding, 1999; Toomey et al, 1998; Wolf et al, 2002; and 30 perseverative errors: Altshuler et al, 2004; Battaglia et al, 1994; Condray et al, 1999; Dieci et al, 1997; Drakeford et al, 2006; Egan, Goldberg et al, 2001; Glahn et al, 2000; Gold et al, 1997; Gooding et al, 1999; Gooding and Tallent, 2002; Gooding et al, 2001; Haut et al, 1996; Josman and Katz, 2006; Keefe et al, 1994; Keri et al, 2001; Laurent et al, 2000; Laurent et al, 2001; Merrin et al, 2006; Rybakowski and Borkowska, 2002; Scarone et al, 1993; Shum et al, 2004; Snitz et al, 1999; Stratta, Daneluzzo, Mattei et al, 1997; Stratta, Daneluzzo, Prosperini et al, 1997; Suhr, 1997; Sullivan et al, 1993; …”

Recollection and Familiarity in Schizophrenia: A Quantitative Review

“…For example, 16 of 19 studies reported that recollection was reduced in schizophrenia patients relative to demographically matched controls (10-19, 21-23, 25-27), whereas only three (1 PD and 2 RKN) found no significant group differences (20, 24, 28). In contrast, when familiarity was examined, seven studies (1 PD, 3 ROC, 3 RKN) indicated that familiarity was reduced (22-28), seven (all RKN) that familiarity was unaffected (11, 14-17, 20, 21), and five (all RKN) that familiarity was increased, rather than decreased (10, 12, 13, 18, 19), in patients with schizophrenia. These mixed conclusions regarding familiarity may reflect the fact that there is more heterogeneity in the effects of schizophrenia on familiarity versus recollection.…”