Skip to content

Can we Forget? Directed Forgetting and Embodied Cognition in Schizophrenia

Can we Forget? Directed Forgetting and Embodied Cognition in Schizophrenia

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT02538445
Enrollment
96
Registered
2015-09-02
Start date
2011-05-31
Completion date
2012-12-31
Last updated
2016-03-23

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Schizophrenia

Keywords

Schizophrenia, Memory, Cognition

Brief summary

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.

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.

Interventions

OTHERMemorization of the verbs by miming the action

The participant reads aloud the verbs that appear on the screen, by performing the corresponding action verb.

OTHERMemorization of the verbs by imagining the action

The participant reads aloud the verbs that appear on the screen, by imagining the corresponding action verb.

OTHERMemorization 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.

OTHERSimple memorization of the verbs

The participant reads aloud the verbs that appear on the screen, without additional instructions (control condition).

Sponsors

Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Saint Etienne
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 50 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

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).

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Number of items recalled TBR and TBFDay 1It is asked to the participants to recall orally, only TBR verbs (task of reminder). The experimenter notes the given verbs.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Number of recognized itemsDay 1Participants 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.
Reaction time (ms) on the recognition of TBR and TBFDay 1The response times of participants are recorded in ms.

Countries

France

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026