A computational approach to memory deficits in schizophrenia

Episodic memory impairment is one of the most reliable neuropsychological findings in schizophrenia. It has been suggested that medial temporal lobe abnormalities in schizophrenia underlie this impairment. This article suggests that the specific memory deficits in schizophrenia may be caused by abnormal hippocampo-cortical communication via parahippocampal areas. The researchers used connectionist simulations to investigate this notion. Simulations involved list learning in a model that incorporates characteristics of the hippocampal and parahippocampal region. In this model context was used to store and recall episodic memories. Reduction of the nodes in the parahippocampal module of the model resulted in a schizophrenia-like memory deficit profile.