The Relationship Between Schizotypal Traits and the Perceptual Processes of Multisensory Integration, Temporal Processing, and Speech Perception
Abstract
Multisensory integration, the binding of sensory information from different sensory modalities, may contribute to perceptual symptomatology in schizophrenia, including hallucilllnations and aberrant speech perception. Differences in multisensory integration and temporal processing, an important component of multisensory integration, are consistently found in schizophrenia. Evidence is emerging that these differences extend across the schizophrenia spectrum, including individuals in the general population with higher schizotypal traits. In two studies, the relationship between schizotypal traits and perceptual functioning is investigated. We hypothesized associations between higher schizotypal traits and decreased multisensory integration, increased auditory speech distractibility, and less precise temporal processing. In Study 1, higher schizotypal traits were associated with higher rates of multisensory integration. In Study 2, higher schizotypal traits were not associated with multisensory integration, audiovisual speech-in-noise perception, auditory speech distractibility, or temporal processing. These mixed findings suggest that perceptual differences do not always exist in the lower end of the schizophrenia spectrum.