Impaired Activation in Cognitive Control Regions Predicts Reversal Learning in Schizophrenia.

ABSTRACT: Reinforcement learning deficits have been associated with schizophrenia (SZ). However, the pathophysiology that gives rise to these abnormalities remains unclear. To address this question, SZ patients (N = 58) and controls (CN; N = 36) completed a probabilistic reversal-learning paradigm during functional magnetic resonance imaging scanning. During the task, participants choose between 2 stimuli. Initially, 1 stimulus was frequently rewarded (80%); the other was infrequently rewarded (20%). The reward contingencies reversed periodically because the participant learned the more rewarded stimulus. The results indicated that SZ patients achieved fewer reversals than CN, and demonstrated decreased winstay-loseshift decision-making behavior. On loseshift compared to winstay trials, SZ patients

SUBMITTER: Culbreth AJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4753588 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature