Journal
PSYCHOLOGICAL MEDICINE
Volume 45, Issue 16, Pages 3527-3537Publisher
CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS
DOI: 10.1017/S0033291715001439
Keywords
Contextual modulation; gain control; genetic liability; surround suppression; unaffected relatives
Categories
Funding
- National Institute of Health [R21 NS075525, T32 GM0847]
- National Science Foundation [GRF 00006595]
- University of Minnesota Graduate School
- Veterans Health Administration [CSMRF I01CX000227-01]
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Background. The salience of a visual stimulus is often reduced by nearby stimuli, an effect known as surround suppression of perceived contrast, which may help in locating the borders of an object. Weaker surround suppression has been observed in schizophrenia but it is unclear whether this abnormality is present in other mental disorders with similar symptomatology, or is evident in people with genetic liability for schizophrenia. Method. By examining surround suppression among subjects with schizophrenia or bipolar affective disorder, their unaffected biological relatives and healthy controls we sought to determine whether diminished surround suppression was specific to schizophrenia, and if subjects with a genetic risk for either disorder would show similar deficits. Measuring perceived contrast in different surround conditions also allowed us to investigate how this suppression depends on the similarity of target and surrounding stimuli. Results. Surround suppression was weaker among schizophrenia patients regardless of surround configuration. Subjects with bipolar affective disorder showed an intermediate deficit, with stronger suppression than in schizophrenia but weaker than control subjects. Surround suppression was normal in relatives of both patient groups. Findings support a deficit in broadly tuned (rather than sharply orientation- or direction-selective) suppression mechanisms. Conclusions. Weak broadly tuned suppression during visual perception is evident in schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder, consistent with impaired gain control related to the clinical expression of these conditions.
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