Project 11

A novel approach to measuring prepulse inhibition in patients with schizophrenia and relatively healthy controls

Recently, we have developed two novel methods of analysis of prepulse inhibition of the startle reflex, which is reduced in schizophrenia. This method has been used successfully in rats to assess how prepulse inhibition works to affect response excitability, response capacity, response efficacy, stimulus potency, stimulus sensitivity and response bias. However, little is known about what aspects of prepulse inhibition are affected in schizophrenia. This project will involve testing patients and non-patients and using g two methods of analysis: logistic sigmoidal modelling of the function relating the startling stimulus intensity to the startle response magnitude and Signal Detection Theory derived methods. This will test the competing theories of prepulse inhibition, sensory gating and motor gating, and their relevance to schizophrenia.