Neuroscience 2000 Abstract
| Presentation Number: | 112.11 |
|---|---|
| Abstract Title: | Distinct neural processes underlie strategic memory impairment in obsessive-compulsive disorder and schizophrenia. |
| Authors: |
Savage, C. R.*1
; Deckersbach, T.1
; Heckers, S.1
; Bitran, S.1
; Goff, D. C.1
; Rauch, S. L.1
1Dept. of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, |
| Primary Theme and Topics |
J. Disorders of the Nervous System and Aging - 140. Neuropsychiatric disorders |
| Secondary Theme and Topics | I. Neural Basis of Behavior<br />- 102. Cognition: human learning and memory |
| Session: |
112. Neuropsychiatric disorders: schizophrenia I Slide |
| Presentation Time: | Sunday, November 5, 2000 3:30 PM-3:45 PM |
| Location: | Room 388 |
| Keywords: | Schizophrenia, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Memory, Prefrontal Cortex |
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and schizophrenia are associated with disturbances in episodic memory, especially strategic processes such as the ability to mentally regroup related words together during verbal learning (semantic organization). Previous studies in neurologic lesion patients link this process to prefrontal cortex (PFC). However, PFC is functionally heterogeneous and different territories likely subserve different aspects of semantic organization. Distinct regions of PFC are also implicated in OCD and schizophrenia: OCD is linked to orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), and schizophrenia to lateral PFC. We have previously conducted a positron emission tomography study of semantic organization in normal subjects (SFN Abst '99). There were two primary encoding conditions: 1) Spontaneous: words were related in four semantic categories, and subjects were not instructed beforehand; 2) Directed: same as (1) but subjects were explicitly instructed to notice relationships and use them to improve memory. Results implicated OFC in strategy mobilization during the Spontaneous condition and left lateral PFC (dorsolateral and inferior) in semantic clustering during the Directed condition. We have now collected offline data using this paradigm in patients. Based on PET data and neurobiological theories of each disorder, we hypothesized that OCD patients would fail to initiate strategies in the Spontaneous condition, but do so normally in the Directed condition, while schizophrenic patients would fail to cluster in both conditions. Initial semantic clustering data (% clustering ± SEM) are presented below: Results are consistent with predictions based on selective OFC dysfunction in OCD and lateral PFC dysfunction in schizophrenia. OCD patients failed to spontaneously initiate strategies, but performed normally when given explicit guidance, while schizophrenics failed in both conditions.
Supported by NIMH MH01230, NARSAD.
Sample Citation:
[Authors]. [Abstract Title]. Program No. XXX.XX. 2000 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. New Orleans, LA: Society for Neuroscience, 2000. Online.
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