RESPONSES OE PARANOID AND NONPARANOID SCHIZOPHRENICS IN A DICHOTIC LISTENING TASK

Abstract

Differences in attentional processes between normal people, paranoid schizophrenics and nonparanoid schizophrenics were studied by delivering dichotically presented digits for identification. Paranoid schizophrenics (20 acute and 10 chronic), nonparanoid schizophrenics (20 acute and 10 chronic), and 20 normal controls were tested. The data were analyzed in terms of the overall level of correct identification of stimuli presented to the 2 ears, the number of shifts in report from 1 ear to the other and the magnitude of ear differences in recall. Overall level of performance was higher for the normals than for the schizophrenics; the number of ear shifts was greater for normals and nonparanoid than for paranoid schizophrenics; and ear differences were greatest for the paranoid schizophrenics and lowest for the normals. The results were interpreted in terms of differences in attentional style and rate of information processing.