Eye Movements and Cognitive Functioning in Patients With Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders: Network Analysis

Abstract

Background: Eye movement parameters are often used during cognitive functioning assessments of patients with psychotic spectrum disorders. It is interesting to compare these oculomotor parameters with cognitive functions, as assessed using psychometric cognitive tests. A network analysis is preferable for understanding complex systems; therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the multidimensional relationships that exist between oculomotor reactions and neurocognition in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders.Materials and Methods: A total of 134 subjects (93 inpatients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (ICD-10) and 41 healthy volunteers) participated in this study. Psychiatric symptom severity was assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia, and the Young Mania Rating Scale. Extrapyramidal symptoms were assessed using the Simpson-Angus Scale, and akathisia was assessed using the Barnes Akathisia Rating Scale. Eye movements were recorded using an eye-tracker SMI RED 500, and cognitive function was assessed using the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia. The statistical analyses were conducted using Minitab 17 Statistical Software, version 17.2.1. Data visualization and additional analyses were performed in the R 4.0.3 environment, using RStudio V 1.3.1093 software.Results: A network model of neurocognitive and oculomotor functions was constructed for the patients. In the full network (which includes all correlations) the median antisaccade latency value is the central element of the oculomotor domain, and the Symbol Coding test, the Digit Sequencing test, and the Verbal Fluency test are central elements in the neurocognitive domain. Additionally, there were connections between other cognitive and oculomotor functions, except for the antisaccade error latency in the oculomotor domain and the Token Motor Task in the neurocognitive domain.Conclusion: Network analysis provides measurable criteria for the assessment of neurophysiological and neurocognitive abnormalities in patients with schizophrenic spectrum disorders and allows to select key targets for their management and cognitive remediation.

Visual Function and Neuropsychological Profiling of Idiopathic Infantile Nystagmus

“…The literature is scarce about the relationship between oculomotor impairment and a low processing speed. For example, a recent study found a low PSI in children with schizophrenia and oculomotor impairment [ 63 ]. Interestingly, lower PSI scores have been reported in many neurodevelopmental disorders, such as learning disabilities, ADHD, or high-functioning ASD [ 62 , 64 , 65 , 66 ].…”

Investigation of saccadic eye movement abnormalities in children with HIV/AIDS on HAART

“…Over the past three decades, eye movements have been used as an experimental screening tool to gain insight into AIDS-related diseases, learning-related disorders, psychiatric disorders, neuromuscular disorders, fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and neurological disease. (Bittencourt et al, 2013;Green et al, 2007;Jaafari et al, 2011;Nerušil et al, 2021;Shmukler et al, 2021). Due to the overlap between brain areas that mediate saccadic eye movement function and that which are injured by HIV persistence, specifically the basal ganglia and deep white matter (Boissé et al, 2008) saccadic eye movement testing may provide valuable insight into CNS of people diagnosed with HIV/AIDS.…”

Eye movements as predictor of cognitive improvement after cognitive remediation therapy in patients with schizophrenia

“…Eye movement as a neurophysiological indicator, and associated with higher cognitive processes and psychomotor functions (25,26). Prosaccades are recognized as reflexive saccades, where participants need bottom-up attention to complete this paradigm (27), while antisaccades involve inhibition and cognitive control (28,29). These results strongly suggest a relationship between abnormal eye movements and cognitive deficits in schizophrenia.…”

“…These results strongly suggest a relationship between abnormal eye movements and cognitive deficits in schizophrenia. It has been shown that the directional error rate and antisaccade latency in patients with schizophrenia during the antisaccade tasks are related to performance on the Digit Sequencing and Symbol Coding Test, respectively ( 30 ). Higher cognitive processes involved sensorimotor and visual information switching abilities have been demonstrated in the antisaccade task ( 31 ).…”