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Autism and schizophrenia: Similar perceptual consequence, different neurobiological etiology?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 February 2005

Armando Bertone*
Affiliation:
Visual Psychophysics and Perception Laboratory, École d'optométrie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, H3C 1C1, Canadahttp://vision.opto.umontreal.ca
Laurent Mottron*
Affiliation:
Clinique specialisee des Troubles Envahissants du Developpement, Hôpital Rivière-des-Prairies, Montréal, H1E 1A4, Canada
Jocelyn Faubert*
Affiliation:
Visual Psychophysics and Perception Laboratory, École d'optométrie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, H3C 1C1, Canadahttp://vision.opto.umontreal.ca

Abstract:

Phillips & Silverstein (P&S, 2003) propose that NMDA-receptor dysfunction may be the fundamental neurobiological mechanism underlying and associating impaired holistic perception and cognitive coordination with schizophrenic psychopathology. We discuss how the P&S hypothesis shares different aspects of the weak central coherence account of autism from both theoretical and experimental perspectives. Specifically, we believe that neither those persons with autism nor those with schizophrenia integrate visuo-perceptual information efficiently, resulting in incongruous internal representations of their external world. However, although NMDA-hypofunction may be responsible for perceptual impairments in schizophrenia and possibly autism, we suggest that it is highly unlikely that NMDA-hypofunction is specifically responsible for the autistic behavioral symptomology, as described by P&S in their target article.

Type
Continuing Commentary
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2004

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Footnotes

Commentary onWilliam A. Phillips & Steven M. Silverstein (2003). Convergence of biological and psychological perspectives on cognitive coordination in schizophrenia. BBS 26(1):65–82.