Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Components of Visual Search in Childhood-Onset Schizophrenia and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

  • Published:
Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study tested the hypotheses that visual search impairments in schizophrenia are due to a delay in initiation of search or a slow rate of serial search. We determined the specificity of these impairments by comparing children with schizophrenia to children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and age-matched normal children. The hypotheses were tested within the framework of feature integration theory by administering children tasks tapping parallel and serial search. Search rate was estimated from the slope of the search functions, and duration of the initial stages of search from time to make the first saccade on each trial. As expected, manual response times were elevated in both clinical groups. Contrary to expectation, ADHD, but not schizophrenic, children were delayed in initiation of serial search. Finally, both groups showed a clear dissociation between intact parallel search rates and slowed serial search rates.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  • American Psychiatric Association. (1987). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (3rd ed., rev.). Washington, DC: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Andreasen, N. C. (1997, March 14). Linking mind and brain in the study of mental illnesses: A project for a scientific psychopathology. Science, 275, 1586–1593.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Asarnow, R. F., & Asarnow, J. R. (1994). Childhood-onset schizophrenia: Editors' introduction. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 20, 591–597.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Asarnow, R. F., Brown, W., & Strandburg, R. (1995). Children with a schizophrenic disorder: Neurobehavioral studies. European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 245, 70–79.

    Google Scholar 

  • Asarnow, R. F., & Granholm, E. (1990). The contributions of cognitive psychology to models of vulnerability to schizophrenia. In H. Hafner & W. F. Gattaz (Eds.), Search for the causes of schizophrenia (Vol. 2, pp. 205–220). Berlin, Germany: Springer-Verlag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Asarnow, R. F., Granholm, E., & Sherman, T. (1991). Span of apprehension in schizophrenia. In S. R. Steinhauer, J. H. Gruzelier, & J. Zubin (Eds.), Handbook of schizophrenia: Vol. 5. Neuropsychology, psychophysiology and information processing (pp. 335–370). New York: Elsevier.

    Google Scholar 

  • Asarnow, R. F., & Sherman, T. (1984). Studies of visual information processing in schizophrenic children. Child Development, 55, 249–261.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Baloh, R. W., Kumley, W. E., & Honrubia, V. (1976). Algorithm for analyses of saccadic eye movements using a digital computer. Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine, 47, 523–527.

    Google Scholar 

  • Braun, J. (1994). Visual search among items of different salience: Removal of visual attention mimics a lesion in extrastriate area V4. Journal of Neuroscience, 14, 554–567.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Carpenter, R. H. S. (1988). Movements of the eyes (2nd ed., rev.). London, England: Pion.

    Google Scholar 

  • Casey, B. J., Castellanos, F. X., Giedd, J. N., Marsh, W. L., Hamburger, S. D., Schubert, A. B., Vauss, Y. C., Vaituzis, A. C., Dickstein, D. P., Sarfatti, S. E., & Rapoport, J. L. (1997). Implication of right frontostriatal circuitry in response inhibition and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 36, 374–383.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Castellanos, F. X. (1997). Toward a pathophysiology of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Clinical Pediatrics, 36, 381–393.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chelazzi, L., Biscaldi, M., Corbetta, M., Peru, A., Tassinari, G., & Berlucchi, G. (1995). Oculomotor activity and visual spatial attention. Behavioral Brain Research, 71, 81–88.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clementz, B. A., McDowell, J. E., & Zisook, S. (1994). Saccadic system functioning among schizophrenia patients and their first-degree biological relatives. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 103, 277–287.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Crick, F. (1984). Function of the thalamic reticular complex: The searchlight hypothesis. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA, 81, 4586–4590.

    Google Scholar 

  • Duhamel, J-R., Colby, C. L., & Goldberg, M. E. (1992, January 3). The updating of the representation of visual space in parietal cortex by intended eye movements. Science, 255, 90–92.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dunn, L. M., & Dunn, L. M. (1981). Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test—Revised: Manual for forms L and M. Circle Pines, MN: American Guidance Service.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fukushima, J., Fukushima, K., Miyasaka, K., & Yamashita, I. (1994). Voluntary control of saccadic eye movement in patients with frontal cortical lesions and Parkinsonian patients in comparison with that in schizophrenics. Biological Psychiatry, 36, 21–30.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Granholm, E., Asarnow, R. F., & Marder, S. R. (1996). Display visual angle and attentional scanpaths on the Span of Apprehension task in schizophrenia. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 105, 17–24.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman, J. E., & Subramaniam, B. (1995). The role of visual attention in saccadic eye movements. Perception and Psychophysics, 57, 787–795.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hollis, C. (1995). Child and adolescent (juvenile onset) schizophrenia. British Journal of Psychiatry, 166, 489–495.

    Google Scholar 

  • Iacono, W. G., Tuason, V. B., & Johnson, R. A. (1981). Dissociation of smooth-pursuit and saccadic eye tracking in remitted schizophrenics: An ocular reaction time task that schizophrenics perform well. Archives of General Psychiatry, 38, 991–996.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Karatekin, C., Asarnow, R. F., & Wickens, T. (1997). Initiation of parallel and serial search: Evidence from saccadic reaction times. Unpublished manuscript.

  • Klorman, R., Brumaghim, J. T., Fitzpatrick, P.A., & Borgstedt, A. D. (1992). Methylphenidate reduces abnormalities of stimulus classification in adolescents with attention deficit disorder. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 101, 130–138.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kowler, E., Anderson, E., Dosher, B., & Blaser, E. (1995). The role of attention in the programming of saccades. Vision Research, 35, 1897–1916.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Leigh, R. J., & Zee, D. S. (1983). The neurology of eye movement. Philadelphia: Davis.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levin, S., Jones, A., Stark, L., Merrin, E. L., & Holzman, P. S. (1982). Identification of abnormal patterns in eye movements of schizophrenic patients. Archives of General Psychiatry, 39, 1125–1130.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Luck, S. (1995). Multiple mechanisms of visual-spatial attention: Recent evidence from human electrophysiology. Behavioral Brain Research, 71, 113–123.

    Google Scholar 

  • Luck, S. J., & Hillyard, S. A. (1990). Electrophysiological evidence for parallel and serial processing during visual search. Perception and Psychophysics, 48, 603–617.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lumer, E. D., Edelman, G. M., & Tononi, G. (1997). Neural dynamics in a model of the thalamocortical system. I. Layers, loops and the emergence of fast synchronous rhythms. Cerebral Cortex, 7, 207–227.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mori, S., Tanaka, G., Ayaka, Y., Michitsuji, S., Niwa, H., Uemura, M., & Ohta, Y. (1996). Preattentive and focal attentional processes in schizophrenia: A visual search study. Schizophrenia Research, 22, 69–76.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nuechterlein, K. H., & Dawson, M. E. (1984). Information processing and attentional functioning in the developmental course of schizophrenic disorders. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 10, 160–203.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Puig-Antich, J., & Chambers, W. (1978). The schedule for affective disorders and schizophrenia for school-age children (Kiddie-SADS). New York: New York State Psychiatric Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosofsky, I., Levin, S., & Holzman, P. S. (1982). Psychomotility in the functional psychoses. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 91, 71–74.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ross, R. G., Hommer, D., Breiger, D., Varley, C., & Radant, A. (1994). Eye movement task related to frontal lobe functioning in children with Attention Deficit Disorder. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 33, 869–874.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rothlind, J. C., Posner, M. I., & Schaughency, E. A. (1991). Lateralized control of eye movements in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 3, 377–381.

    Google Scholar 

  • Russell, P. N., Consedine, C. E., & Knight, R. G. (1980). Visual and memory search by process schizophrenics. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 89, 109–14.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Russell, P. N., & Knight, R. G. (1977). Performance of process schizophrenics on tasks involving visual search. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 86, 16–26.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schiller, P. H., & Lee, K. (1991). The role of primate extrastriate area V4 in vision. Science, 251, 1251–1253.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schroeder, J., Buchsbaum, M. S., Siegel, B. V., Geider, F. J., Haier, R. J., Lohr, J., Wu, J., & Potkin, S. G. (1994). Patterns of cortical activity in schizophrenia. Psychological Medicine, 24, 947–955.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sergeant, J. A., & Scholten, C.A. (1983). A stages-of-information approach to hyperactivity. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 24, 49–60.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sergeant, J. A., & Scholten, C. A. (1985). On data limitations in hyperactivity. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 26, 111–124.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sergeant, J. A., & Van der Meere, J. J. (1988). What happens after a hyperactive child commits an error? Psychiatry Research, 24, 157–164.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sheliga, B. M., Riggio, L., Craighero, L., & Rizzolatti, G. (1995). Spatial attention-determined modifications in saccade trajectories. Neuroreport, 6, 585–588.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sherman, S. M., & Guillery, R. W. (1996). Functional organization of thalamocortical relays. Journal of Neurophysiology, 76, 1367–1395.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Smit, A. C., Van Gisbergen, J. A. M., & Cools, A. R. (1987). A parametric analysis of human saccades in different experimental paradigms. Vision Research, 27, 1745–1762.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thaker, G. K., Kirkpatrick, B., Buchanan, R. W., Bllsberry, R., Lahti, A., & Tamminga, C. (1989). Oculomotor abnormalities and their clinical correlates in schizophrenia. Psychopharmacology Bulletin, 25, 491–497.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, M. A., Ke, Y., Levitt, J., Caplan, R., Curran, J., Asarnow, R., & McCracken, J. (1998). Preliminary study of frontal lobe 1H MR spectroscopy in childhood-onset schizophrenia. Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, 8, 841–846.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Treisman, A. M., & Gormican, S. (1988). Feature analysis in early vision: Evidence from search asymmetries. Psychological Review, 95, 15–48.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Treisman, A., & Souther, J. (1985). Search asymmetry: A diagnostic for preattentive processing of separable features. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 114, 285–310.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van der Meere, J., & Sergeant, J. (1988). Acquisition of attentional skill in pervasively hyperactive children. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 29, 301–310.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Walker, E., & Green, M. (1982). Motor proficiency and attentional-task performance by psychotic patients. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 91, 261–268.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wechsler, D. (1974). Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children—Revised. New York: Psychological Corporation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wechsler, D. (1981). Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Revised. San Antonio, TX: Psychological Corporation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wechsler, D. (1991). Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (3rd ed.). San Antonio, TX: Psychological Corporation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Werry, J. S., McClellan, J. M., Andrews, L. K., & Ham, M. (1994). Clinical features and outcome of child and adolescent schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 20, 619–630.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wolfe, J. M. (1994). Guided Search 2.0: A revised model of visual search. Psychonomic Bulletin and Review, 1, 202–238.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. Canan Karatekin (Ph.D.)

    Present address: Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55455

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of California, Los Angeles, California, 90024

    Canan Karatekin (Ph.D.)

  2. University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, 90024

    Robert F. Asarnow

Authors
  1. Canan Karatekin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Robert F. Asarnow
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Karatekin, C., Asarnow, R.F. Components of Visual Search in Childhood-Onset Schizophrenia and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. J Abnorm Child Psychol 26, 367–380 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021903923120

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021903923120

Search

Navigation