Executive functioning component mechanisms and schizophrenia.

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND:
Executive functioning refers to a set of processes involved in complex, goal-directed thought and behavior involving multiple brain regions (e.g., prefrontal cortex, parietal cortex, basal ganglia) and multiple neurotransmitters (e.g., dopamine, glutamate, gamma-aminobutyric acid). People with schizophrenia exhibit executive functioning deficits that are associated with treatment-refractory aspects of the disorder. Although there is general consensus about what cognitive tasks involve executive functioning, there is disagreement about the specific cognitive mechanisms that comprise executive functioning.

METHODS:
This article discusses a number of possible candidate executive functioning mechanisms and provides a summary of the consensus reached by the executive functioning discussion group at the first CNTRICS (Cognitive Neuroscience for Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia) meeting in Washington, DC.

RESULTS:
The consensus was that two constructs have a well-founded basis in basic cognitive neuroscience research and seem to be impaired in schizophrenia:
1) rule generation and selection; and 2) dynamic adjustments in control (i.e., after conflict and errors).

CONCLUSIONS:
The consensus of the first CNTRICS meeting was that immediate translation of measures of these constructs for use in schizophrenia should be pursued. A number of other constructs (e.g., scheduling, sequencing) could also be very important for schizophrenia and are in need of more basic and more clinical research.

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Author information

Author/s: Kerns, John G (JG); Nuechterlein, Keith H (KH); Braver, Todd S (TS); Barch, Deanna M (DM);

Affiliation: Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, USA. kernsj(-atsign-)missouri.edu

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Consensus Development Conference, NIH; Journal Article

Journal: Biological psychiatry (Biol Psychiatry), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Jul; vol 64 (issue 1) : pp 26-33

Dates: Created 2008/06/13; Completed 2008/08/15;

PMID: 18549874, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Antipsychotic Agents - therapeutic use
Attention - drug effects; physiology
Biomedical Research
Brain - drug effects; physiopathology
Brain Mapping
Cognition Disorders - drug therapy; physiopathology; psychology
Conflict (Psychology)
Cooperative Behavior
Drug Design
Frontal Lobe - drug effects; physiopathology

Frontal Lobe - drug effects; physiopathology
Humans
Nerve Net - drug effects; physiopathology
Neuropsychological Tests
Nucleus Accumbens - drug effects; physiopathology
Parietal Lobe - drug effects; physiopathology
Prefrontal Cortex - drug effects; physiopathology
Problem Solving - drug effects; physiology
Schizophrenia - diagnosis; drug therapy; physiopathology
Schizophrenic Psychology

Associated Chemicals: Antipsychotic Agents (0)

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