Deficits in auditory and visual temporal perception in schizophrenia

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Abstract
Introduction. Characteristics of time perception have not been well documented in patients with schizophrenia. The current study investigated time estimation to (1) test whether visual and auditory time perception varied between patients and controls, (2) assess the degree to which patients and controls can differentiate changes in experimental intervals, and (3) explore whether the temporal deficits suggest a general time perception deficit versus modality-specific differences. Methods. Participants were asked to decide whether temporal intervals were shorter or longer than standard intervals on computer-based auditory and visual temporal perception tasks. Data are presented for a sample of 10 patients with schizophrenia and 10 normal controls. Results. Data suggest that patients with schizophrenia exhibit deficits in differentiating subtle differences in intervals in the tens of milliseconds range, compared to their normal control peers on both auditory (p <.01) and visual perception tasks (p <.01). Conclusions. Preliminary data suggest that there is a general temporal processing deficit in schizophrenia. However, future research using complementary techniques may provide useful information regarding the specific types of temporal deficits that affect patients with schizophrenia and the physiology of the dysfunction.