Proverb Comprehension Deficits in Patients with Schizophrenia
Neurocognitive Correlates
Abstract
Abstract. Patients suffering from schizophrenia typically show difficulty comprehending proverbs. This deficit has been linked to social and neurocognitive domains, such as theory of mind (TOM) and, more recently, working memory (WM). It is still unclear which cognitive deficits underlie proverb comprehension. We analyzed possible associations of proverb comprehension to neurocognitive and social cognitive dysfunctions in 64 patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, by combining tests measuring executive functions (inhibition, cognitive flexibility, planning), WM (verbal and visuo-spatial), and social cognition (TOM). A hierarchical regression demonstrated that WM and executive dysfunction best predicted proverb comprehension, which in turn supports the conceptual integration model. Social cognition showed no additional predictive value. The ability to comprehend figurative language might depend more on neurocognitive than on social cognitive abilities.
Zusammenfassung. Die Schwierigkeit schizophrener Patienten, Sprichwörter zu verstehen, wurde mit Defiziten in verschiedenen kognitiven Domänen in Zusammenhang gebracht, darunter Theory of Mind und das Arbeitsgedächtnis. Es ist nicht geklärt, welche kognitiven Defizite den Schwierigkeiten mit Sprichwörtern zugrunde liegen. Wir analysierten mögliche Zusammenhänge zu kognitiven Dysfunktionen in 64 Patienten mit einer Schizophrenie Spektrum Erkrankung. Eine kognitive Testbatterie kombinierte Tests der Inhibition, kognitiven Flexibilität, Planen, verbalem und visuo-räumlichem Arbeitsgedächtnis und Theory of Mind. Eine hierarchische Regression ergab, dass das Arbeitsgedächtnis und Exekutivfunktionen Schwierigkeiten im Sprichwort Verständnis am besten erklärten, was das conceptual integration model aus dem Bereich der kognitiven Linguistik unterstützt. Die Fähigkeit, figurative Sprache zu verstehen, könnte möglicherweise mehr von neurokognitiven Fähigkeiten als von sozialer Kognition abhängen.
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