Neuropsychological impairments in the syndromes of schizophrenia: A comparison between different dimensional models

This study investigates the associations between the different symptom dime nsions oi schizophrenia and neuropsychological performances. Globally, the results replicate previously described associations. The "negative" dimensi on correlates with impaired sustained attention and working memory, thus su ggestive of dorsolateral frontal cortex dysfunction. "Disorganization" corr elates with the ability to inhibit proactive interference, thus with ventro medial frontal dysfunction. The results also add support to the view that t he "pspchotic" dimension described in three-dimension models includes in fa ct two distinct dimensions, (1) ''hallucinations," ht l e associated to epi sodic memory measures, and (2) "delusions", here associated to visuospatial attention, thus suggestive of mediotemporal and posterior neocortical dysf unction, respectively. (C) 2001 Academic Press.