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Preliminary Communication Absence of cardiac deceleration in a signalled escape paradigm: a psychophysiological deficit in chronic schizophrenia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

John L. Waddington*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Liverpool
Malcolm J. Macculloch
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Liverpool
Marie L. Schalken
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Liverpool
Jean E. Sambrooks
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Liverpool
*
1Address for correspondence: Dr J. L. Waddington, Division of Psychiatry, MRC Clinical Research Centre, Harrow, Middlesex HA1 3UJ.

Synopsis

Fourteen chronic male schizophrenic patients and six male control subjects were com pared in an escape paradigm involving temporal warning of the presentation of an aversive tone stimulus to which an escape response was to be made. The characteristic heart rate deceleration shown immediately prior to the aversive stimulus by control subjects was absent in the schizophrenic group. Further features of this novel test paradigm distinguished the control and schizophrenic groups. This psychophysiological test procedure may be fruitful for schizophrenia research.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1978

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