Psychiatry Research
Volume 120, Issue 2 , Pages 145-154, 30 September 2003

Executive function assessed by memory updating and random generation in schizotypal individuals

  • S.E Avons

      Affiliations

    • Department of Psychology, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UK
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +44-1-206-873785; fax: +44-1-206-873590
    • ,
  • Julia A Nunn

      Affiliations

    • Goldsmiths College, University of London, New Cross, London SE14 6NW, UK
    • ,
  • Lucy Chan

      Affiliations

    • Goldsmiths College, University of London, New Cross, London SE14 6NW, UK
    • ,
  • Helen Armstrong

      Affiliations

    • Department of Psychology, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UK

Received 31 May 2002; received in revised form 7 December 2002; accepted 17 June 2003.

Abstract 

Individuals scoring high (N=32) and low (N=27) on the unusual experiences (UnEx) scale of the Oxford-Liverpool Inventory of Feelings and Experiences (O-LIFE) were selected from a large sample (N=265) of normal volunteer undergraduates. The high- and low-UnEx groups were compared on two tasks, random generation and memory updating, which target executive functions that inhibit prepotent responses and update current information. The groups differed only on the R measure of random generation that assesses inequality in the relative frequencies of response alternatives, a result attributed to superstitious behaviour rather than to executive deficit. The results suggest that the executive impairments previously observed in high schizotypal individuals using the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test and other measures are selective rather than global.

Keywords:  Executive function, Unusual experiences, Schizotypy, Random generation, Memory updating

To access this article, please choose from the options below

Login to an existing account or Register a new account.

  • Purchase this article for 31.50 USD (You must login/register to purchase this article)

    Online access for 24 hours. The PDF version can be downloaded as your permanent record.

  • Subscribe to this title

    Get unlimited online access to this article and all other articles in this title 24/7 for one year.

  • Claim access now

    For current subscribers with Society Membership or Account Number.

  • Visit SciVerse ScienceDirect to see if you have access via your institution.
 

PII: S0165-1781(03)00174-4

doi:10.1016/S0165-1781(03)00174-4

Psychiatry Research
Volume 120, Issue 2 , Pages 145-154, 30 September 2003

Article Tools