This study characterized memory functions in geriatric schizophrenic
inpatients with a battery of memory tests sensitive to neuropsychological
impairments in either temporal or frontal brain regions. In patients
clinically rated as cognitively impaired (n = 24), nearly all of these
measures showed deficits relative to less impaired patients (n = 25).
Factor analysis found consistent correlations between the tests and their
putative cortical localization. Discriminant analysis suggested the pattern
of impairments was not consistent with a generalized deficit. These results
introduce the possibility, to be directly tested with neuropathological
study, that the severe cognitive deficits in elderly schizophrenic patients
are due to dysfunctions in either the temporal or frontal regions of the
cerebral cortex, with the specific type of dysfunction varying across
cases.Abstract Teaser