| Abstract: | Studied phasic electrodermal orienting response (OR) to brief tones at 60, 75, or 90 db. Results support earlier findings obtained with brief visual stimuli both in retest and in newly recruited Ss among 72 clear and 72 confused chronic schizophrenics and 48 normal controls. Confused Ss showed diminished reactivity to stimuli of low to moderate intensity. A moderate increase in stimulus intensity significantly improved initial OR frequency among confused Ss without affecting response amplitude; further increase brought initial OR amplitude to normal levels. Chronic schizophrenics again showed consistently faster habituation than controls. Results are not attributable to particular diagnostic subgroupings or total time in hospital. While long-hospitalized Ss with a hebephrenic diagnosis are more likely to be confused, it is the fact of confusion itself that is significant in determining OR. Results suggest faster but less detailed assilimation of information among chronic schizophrenics in general, coupled with a defensive attenuation of specific input among confused patients in particular. (30 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
