Stimulus onset asynchronicity as a modulator of negative priming in schizotypy

A reduction of the negative priming-effect has been found for both schizophrenics and high schizotypes, which is commonly interpreted as a sign of cognitive disinhibition in these populations. In the present study, a negative correlation between various schizotypal traits and negative priming was replicated only when using a short stimulus onset asynchronicity (SOA). For long SOA conditions, negative priming and positive schizotypy correlated in a positive direction at trend level. Negative priming did not correlate with semantic priming, another putative measure of cognitive inhibition, indicating that both measures tap different cognitive functions. Results imply that negative priming is not generally diminished in high schizotypes, but that the relationship depends on the length of the SOA. Unlike previous research the attenuation of the negative priming effect in high schizotypes is not attributable to decreased prime perception or dyslexia.