Interference effects in schizophrenic short-term memory.

Presented 35 lists of 7 digits to 24 16-41 yr old schizophrenic patients and 24 16-39 yr old matched normal controls. Items in the different serial positions were probed randomly in a series of 7 recall trials for each list. Input interference resulting from interpolation of items between presentation and recall of the probed item was the same for both groups. Output interference resulting from interpolation of responses between presentation and recall was greater for schizophrenics than for normals. Significant differences in error patterns were also found. It is concluded that output interference is a major causative factor in the schizophrenic recall deficit. (34 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)