P168. Nonverbal social communication in schizophrenia is linked to gesture performance

• Published in: Clinical neurophysiology Vol. 126; no. 8; pp. e159 - e160
• Main Authors: Walther, S, Stegmayer, K, Sulzbacher, J, Vanbellingen, T, Müri, R, Strik, W, Bohlhalter, S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.08.2015
• Subjects: Neurology
• ISSN: 1388-2457; 1872-8952
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2015.04.267

Background Schizophrenia patients are severely impaired in nonverbal communication, including gesture production and social perception. However, the impact of gestural behavior on nonverbal social perception remains unknown, as is the contribution of negative symptoms, working memory and abnormal motor behavior. The study aimed to test whether poor nonverbal social perception was related to impaired gesture performance, gestural knowledge or motor abnormalities. Methods Forty-six patients with schizophrenia (80%), schizophreniform (5%) or schizoaffective disorder (15%) and forty-four healthy controls matched for age, gender and education were included. Participants underwent comprehensive clinical and motor assessments and four tasks on nonverbal communication including gesture performance, gesture recognition, nonverbal social perception and tool use. Results Patients presented impaired nonverbal communication in all tasks compared to controls. Furthermore, in contrast to controls, performance in patients was highly correlated between tasks, not explained by supramodal cognitive deficits such as working memory. Schizophrenia patients with impaired nonverbal social perception also demonstrated poor gesture performance and knowledge. Importantly, nonverbal social perception was predicted by gesture performance, which was in turn predicted by motor abnormalities. Although negative symptom scores correlated with performance of hand gestures, they showed no association with nonverbal social perception. Conclusions The study confirmed a generalized nonverbal communication deficit in schizophrenia. Specifically, the findings suggested that the gestural impairment has a relevant impact on nonverbal social perception in schizophrenia, which is independent of negative symptoms or impaired working memory.