The authors used the backward-masking procedure to investigate visual
information processing in schizophrenic and bipolar patients, determining
the critical interstimulus interval at which the masked target could be
identified for each subject. Multiple regression analysis revealed that a
negative symptom rating was a significant predictor of this interval among
schizophrenic patients: greater negative symptoms were associated with
longer intervals. Positive symptom ratings were not predictive of
performance. Symptom ratings did not predict performance of bipolar
patients. Group comparisons revealed that schizophrenic patients who had
mixed positive and negative symptoms had significantly longer intervals
than normal control subjects did. These results have implications for
theories of information processing in schizophrenia.Abstract Teaser