Cognitive functioning and symptomatology in schizophrenia: The role of frontal-subcortical systems

Abstract

Similarities between schizophrenia and disorders with known subcortical pathologies have suggested that the fronto-subcortical areas may also be implicated in cases of schizophrenia, especially those with negative or Type 2 symptoms. Recent studies from our group showed no association between measures of episodic memory or motor skills learning and symptomatology, but using the CANTAB associations were found between slowing of thinking and the disorganisation syndrome, and between tests of frontal lobe functioning and the psychomotor poverty syndrome.