Smooth pursuit and visual scanpaths: Independence of two candidate oculomotor risk markers for schizophrenia

Abstract Objectives. Smooth pursuit and visual scanpath deficits are candidate trait markers for schizophrenia. It is not clear whether eye tracking dysfunction (ETD) and atypical scanpath behaviour are the product of the same underlying neurobiological processes. We have examined co-occurrence of E...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:The world journal of biological psychiatry 2012-03, Vol.13 (3), p.200-210
Main Authors: Beedie, Sara A., Benson, Philip J., Giegling, Ina, Rujescu, Dan, St. Clair, David M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
biomarkers
Case-Control Studies
Endophenotypes
Eye Movements
Female
genetics
Humans
Male
Ocular Motility Disorders - physiopathology
psychosis
Pursuit, Smooth
Risk Factors
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia - physiopathology
Young Adult
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Abstract Objectives. Smooth pursuit and visual scanpath deficits are candidate trait markers for schizophrenia. It is not clear whether eye tracking dysfunction (ETD) and atypical scanpath behaviour are the product of the same underlying neurobiological processes. We have examined co-occurrence of ETD and scanpath disturbance in individuals with schizophrenia and healthy volunteers. Methods. Eye movements of individuals with schizophrenia (N = 96) and non-clinical age-matched comparison participants (N = 100) were recorded using non-invasive infrared oculography during smooth pursuit in both predictable (horizontal sinusoid) and less predictable (Lissajous sinusoid) conditions and a free viewing scanpath task. Results. Individuals with schizophrenia demonstrated scanning deficits in both tasks. There was no association between performance measures of smooth pursuit and scene scanpaths in patient or control groups. Odds ratios comparing the likelihood of scanpath dysfunction when ETD was present, and the likelihood of finding scanpath dysfunction when ETD was absent were not significant in patients or controls in either pursuit variant, suggesting that ETD and scanpath dysfunction are independent anomalies in schizophrenia. Conclusion. ETD and scanpath disturbance appear to reflect independent oculomotor or neurocognitive deficits in schizophrenia. Each task may confer unique information about the pathophysiology of psychosis.
ISSN:1562-2975
1814-1412
DOI:10.3109/15622975.2011.566628