Can we Forget? Directed Forgetting and Embodied Cognition in Schizophrenia

Based on the theory of embodied cognition, which focuses on the influence of sensory and motor processes on cognition, researchers propose to study the influence of the action on memorization and inhibition in patients suffering from schizophrenia, using a directed forgetting paradigm. The directed forgetting paradigm is used, composed of two lists of action verbs. The instruction "to forget" is given at the end of learning the first list (To Be Forgotten (TBF)), following a simulation of a computer bug. Therefore a second list is presented to be learned and remembered (To Be Remembered (TBR)). A recognition task is performed at the end. The action verbs had to be encoded using four conditions: action performed, mimed, imagined action, action with a contextual word, reading the action verb only. 48 schizophrenic patients were included in this study. Patients were randomized to have 10 participants per condition. 48 controls matched by age, gender, laterality and education are also included and randomized in the same modality. This study aims to show that the encoding of sensory-motor components, more than providing a context could improve the inhibitory capacities but also memory in schizophrenia, and possibly be used in remediation cognitive.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Schizophrenia
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Memorization of the verbs by miming the action; Other: Memorization of the verbs by imagining the action; Other: Memorization of the action verbs by means of another word; Other: Simple memorization of the verbs

Detailed Description

Researchers used the directed forgetting paradigm composed of two lists of action verbs. The instruction "to forget" is given at the end of learning the first list (To Be Forgotten (TBF)), following a simulation of a computer bug. Therefore a second list is presented to be learned and remembered (To Be Remembered (TBR)). A recognition task is performed at the end. The action verbs had to be encoded using four conditions: action performed, mimed, imagined action, action with a contextual word, reading the action verb only. 48 schizophrenic patients were included in this study. Patients were randomized to have 10 participants per condition. 48 controls matched by age, gender, laterality and education are also included and randomized in the same modality. This study aims to show that the encoding of sensory-motor components, more than providing a context could improve the inhibitory capacities but also memory in schizophrenia, and possibly be used in remediation cognitive.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 96
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• France
  • Saint Etienne, France, 42000
    • CHU de Saint-Etienne

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 50 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria for patients:

• Schizophrenic patients as defined in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV (DSM-IV)
• Stabilized a therapeutic point of view for at least one month.
• Consent form signed
• Affiliated to a Security Health Program

Inclusion Criteria for volunteers:

• Consent form signed
• Affiliated to a Security Health Program

Exclusion Criteria for patients and volunteers :

• Not having a history of head trauma, neurological disease or not stabilized serious somatic illness,
• Not to use psychoactive substance, as defined by the DSM IV.
• The Intelligence Quotient must not be less than 70 (Progressive Matrices Standard score (PM38), Raven Progressive Matrix).

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

8

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Patients group 1; Memorization of the verbs by miming the action	Other: Memorization of the verbs by miming the action; The participant reads aloud the verbs that appear on the screen, by performing the corresponding action verb.
Experimental: Patients group 2; Memorization of the verbs by imagining the action	Other: Memorization of the verbs by imagining the action; The participant reads aloud the verbs that appear on the screen, by imagining the corresponding action verb.
Experimental: Patients group 3; Memorization of the action verbs by means of another word	Other: Memorization of the action verbs by means of another word; The participant reads aloud the verbs that appear on the screen. Then, he reads, without memorizing it, a word associated with the action verb to be learnt to favor the memorization of that one. The word is written near the action verb.
Experimental: Patients group 4; Simple memorization of the verbs	Other: Simple memorization of the verbs; The participant reads aloud the verbs that appear on the screen, without additional instructions (control condition).
Active Comparator: Healthy volonteers group 1; Memorization of the verbs by miming the action	Other: Memorization of the verbs by miming the action; The participant reads aloud the verbs that appear on the screen, by performing the corresponding action verb.
Active Comparator: Healthy volonteers group 2; Memorization of the verbs by imagining the action	Other: Memorization of the verbs by imagining the action; The participant reads aloud the verbs that appear on the screen, by imagining the corresponding action verb.
Active Comparator: Healthy volonteers group 3; Memorization of the action verbs by means of another word	Other: Memorization of the action verbs by means of another word; The participant reads aloud the verbs that appear on the screen. Then, he reads, without memorizing it, a word associated with the action verb to be learnt to favor the memorization of that one. The word is written near the action verb.
Active Comparator: Healthy volonteers group 4; Simple memorization of the verbs	Other: Simple memorization of the verbs; The participant reads aloud the verbs that appear on the screen, without additional instructions (control condition).

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Number of items recalled TBR and TBF	It is asked to the participants to recall orally, only TBR verbs (task of reminder). The experimenter notes the given verbs.	Day 1

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Number of recognized items	Participants must recognize TBR verbs among several verbs (distractor or TBF verbs) on the screen.The experimenter notes the recognized verbs. The recognition of a verb in the TBF list or a distractor is considered like an error.	Day 1
Reaction time (ms) on the recognition of TBR and TBF	The response times of participants are recorded in ms.	Day 1

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Saint Etienne
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Anne GROSSELIN, MD, CHU de Saint-Etienne

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: May 1, 2011
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 1, 2012
• Study Completion (Actual): December 1, 2012

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 31, 2015
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 31, 2015
• First Posted (Estimate): September 2, 2015

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): March 23, 2016
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 22, 2016
• Last Verified: August 1, 2015

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Schizophrenia; Memory; Cognition
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders; Schizophrenia
• Other Study ID Numbers: 1001156; 2010-A01372-37 (Other Identifier: ANSM)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO