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Word priming in schizophrenia: associational and semantic influences.

Nestor PG, Valdman O, Niznikiewicz M, Spencer K, McCarley RW, Shenton ME

Clinical Neuroscience Division, Laboratory of Neuroscience, Boston VA Health Care System-Brockton Division, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. paul.nestor@umb.edu

We examined semantic vs. associational influences on word priming in schizophrenia. Tested on three occasions, subjects made speeded lexical decisions to three kinds of prime-word relationships: semantic-only (e.g., Deer-Pony), associated-only (e.g., Bee-Honey), or semantic-and-associated (e.g., Doctor-Nurse). Controls showed greater priming of words related via two relationships (semantic-and-associated) than for words related only semantically.. However, patients showed greater priming for associated-only words than for words related only semantically. Schizophrenic patients may show an associational bias, restricting semantic integration and contributing to their disturbed thinking.

Published 1 March 2006 in Schizophr Res, 82(2): 139-42.
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