The Neuropsychology of Schizophrenia and Its Relationship to the Neurodevelopmental Model

Abstract

In this chapter we explore ways in which the neuropsychological profile of schizophrenia, namely problems in attention, working memory, episodic memory, and semantic memory, can inform us of the neurodevelopmental trajectory of the illness. A large number of studies have demonstrated that schizophrenia is associated with neurocognitive weakness which is present prior to the onset of the illness and probably is due to subtle development abnormalities in critical circuitry. One of the challenging questions is why abnormal brain development might result specifically in schizophrenia rather than some other neurodevelopmental disorder. We suggest that a combination of age and specific sites of brain insult (especially the temporal-limbic and dorsolateral prefrontal cortices) produces a unique neurodevelopmental trajectory that leads to the specific neurocognitive profile associated with schizophrenia.