Latent Inhibition as a Model of Schizophrenia: From Learning to Psychopathology [La Inhibición Latente Como Modelo de la Esquizofrenia: Del Aprendizaje a la Psicopatología]

Volume 3 Num. 2 - December 2003 - Pages 251-266

Authors:

Roberto Álvarez, Luis G. de la Casa and Pilar Sánchez

Abstract:

In schizophrenia, attentional processes may be altered and become the basis of another symptomatology such as delirium and hallucinations. One of the experimental approaches to the study of attentional processes employs the phenomenon of latent inhibition. Behaviourally, latent inhibition is expressed as a delay or difficulty in learning the relationship between stimuli due to prior experience of the subject with one of the inconsequential stimuli. This learning phenomenon fulfils an adaptive function that enables the organism to release attention from irrelevant stimuli. Schizophrenics do not show this latent inhibition effect due to attentional alterations, that is, they have selective attention difficulties. Clinical data coincide with results obtained from both animals and normal subjects and with data from psychopharmacological studies. Most of the studies show that the dopaminergic system plays an important role in latent inhibition and therefore would support the dopaminergic hypothesis of schizophrenia. Furthermore, latent inhibition is used as a model to evaluate the mechanisms of antipsychotic drug action, as well as for the study of the aetiology of schizophrenia. Finally, latent inhibition opens a line of research in cognitive inhibition processes in schizotypy and the possibility of studying other psychopathological disorders. The model proposed is based on experimental, neurochemical and clinical premises that make it a promising topic of future for research.

Key words:

selective attention, schizophrenia, latent inhibition, antipsychotic drugs, latent inhibition model, conditioning, schizotypy.

Full Article

English

More articles in this volume

• - Schizophrenia: A Conceptual History [Esquizofrenia: Una Historia Conceptual]
• - The Diagnosis of Schizophrenia: Old Wine in New Bottles [El Diagnóstico de la Esquizofrenia: Vino Viejo en Botellas Nuevas]
• - “Negative Symptoms”, Schizophrenia, and the Self ["Síntomas Negativos", Esquizofrenia, y el Yo]
• - The Schizoid Personality of Our Time [La Personalidad Esquizoide de Nuestro Tiempo]
• - Social and Personality Variables Related to the Origin of Auditory Hallucinations [Variables Sociales y de Personalidad Relacionadas con el Origen de las Alucinaciones Auditivas]
• - Consciousness Disorders in Schizophrenia: A Forgotten Land for Psychopathology [Trastornos de Conciencia en Esquizofrenia: Una Tierra Olvidad para la Psicopatología]
• - Etiología y Signos de Riesgo en la Esquizofrenia [Ethiology and Risk Signals in Schizophrenia]
• - Early Intervention in Schizophrenia [Intervención Temprana en Esquizofrenia]
• - Psychiatric Rehabilitation for Schizophrenia [Rehabilitación Psiquiátrica de la Esquizofrenia]
• - Application of the IPT in a Spanish Sample: Evaluation of the “Social Perception Subprogramme" [Aplicación del IPT en una Muestra Española: Evaluación del "Subprograma de Percepción Social"]
• - Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Psychosis [Terapia de Aceptación y Compromiso en Psicosis]