PROACTIVE-INTERFERENCE AND THE NEUROPSYCHOLOGY OF SCHIZOPHRENIA

Gray, Felden, Rawlins, Hemsley & Smith (1991) have proposed a theoreti cal model of the neuropsychology of schizophrenia. A major feature of this model is that it is a weakening of the influences of memories of previous input on current perception/learning which is basic to the ph enomenon of acute schizophrenia. In the present study, proactive inter ference (PI) was used as a paradigm to test this hypothesis. PI occurs when new learning is diminished as a consequence of previously learne d material. According to our reading of the Gray et al. (1991) model, acutely ill unmedicated patients with schizophrenia should demonstrate reduced PI relative to controls. Ten acutely ill unmedicated patients with schizophrenia, 20 patients suffering from major depressive disor der, and 20 healthy controls were assessed using a PI paradigm. No sig nificant differences in PI emerged between the groups. The results do not support this specific feature of the neuropsychological model of a cute schizophrenia proposed by Gray et al. (1991).