Influence of Language on Colour Perception: A Simulationist Explanation

“How can perception be altered by language?” is the fundamental question of this article. Indeed, various studies have pointed out the influence of colour-related knowledge on object and colour perception, evoked by linguistic stimuli. Here the relevance of the simulationist approach is assumed in order to explain this influence, where the understanding of colour-related words or sentences involves a process of colour simulation that is supported by a neuronal network partially similar to the network involved in colour perception. Consequently, colour-related knowledge and colour perception can interact through a process of pattern interference. In support of this idea, studies are discussed showing priming effects between colour simulation and colour perception, but two limitations are also raised. Firstly, these works all used between-category colour discrimination tasks that allow the intervention of lexical processes that can also explain priming. Secondly, these works control the congruency link between prime and target at the level of ‘colour category’, and no demonstration is made of an influence at the level of specific hues. Consequently, the simulationist view of language/perception interactions seems an interesting way to thinking but more experimens are needed in order to overcome some limitations

Influence of Language on Colour Perception: A Simulationist Explanation

“How can perception be altered by language?” is the fundamental question of this article. Indeed, various studies have pointed out the influence of colour-related knowledge on object and colour perception, evoked by linguistic stimuli. Here the relevance of the simulationist approach is assumed in order to explain this influence, where the understanding of colour-related words or sentences involves a process of colour simulation that is supported by a neuronal network partially similar to the network involved in colour perception. Consequently, colour-related knowledge and colour perception can interact through a process of pattern interference. In support of this idea, studies are discussed showing priming effects between colour simulation and colour perception, but two limitations are also raised. Firstly, these works all used between-category colour discrimination tasks that allow the intervention of lexical processes that can also explain priming. Secondly, these works control the congruency link between prime and target at the level of ‘colour category’, and no demonstration is made of an influence at the level of specific hues. Consequently, the simulationist view of language/perception interactions seems an interesting way to thinking but more experimens are needed in order to overcome some limitations

Nicotine dependence is associated with depression and childhood trauma in smokers with schizophrenia: results from the FACE-SZ dataset

International audienceIn a perspective of personalized care for smoking cessation, a better clinical characterization of smokers with schizophrenia (SZ) is needed. The objective of this study was to determine the clinical characteristics of SZ smokers with severe nicotine (NIC) dependence. 240 stabilized community-dwelling SZ smokers (mean age = 31.9 years, 80.4% male gender) were consecutively included in the network of the FondaMental Expert Centers for Schizophrenia and assessed with validated scales. Severe NIC dependence was defined by a Fagerstrom questionnaire score ≥ 7. Depression was defined by a Calgary score ≥ 6. Childhood trauma was self-reported by the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire score (CTQ). Ongoing psychotropic treatment was recorded. Severe NIC dependence was identified in 83 subjects (34.6%), depression in 60 (26.3%). 44 (22.3%) subjects were treated by antidepressants. In a multivariate model, severe NIC dependence remained associated with depression (OR = 3.2, p = 0.006), male gender (OR = 4.5, p = 0.009) and more slightly with childhood trauma (OR = 1.03, p = 0.044), independently of socio-demographic characteristics, psychotic symptoms severity, psychotropic treatments and alcohol disorder. NIC dependence was independently and strongly associated with, respectively, depression and male gender in schizophrenia, and only slightly with history of childhood trauma. Based on these results, the care of both nicotine dependence and depression should be evaluated for an effective smoking cessation intervention in schizophrenia

Chronic Peripheral Inflammation is Associated With Cognitive Impairment ă in Schizophrenia: Results From the Multicentric FACE-SZ Dataset

International audienceObjectives: Inflammation, measured by abnormal blood C-reactive protein ă (CRP) level, has been described in schizophrenia (SZ), being ă inconsistently related to impaired cognitive functions. The aim of the ă present study is to investigate cognitive impairment associated with ă abnormal CRP levels in a large multi-centric sample of ă community-dwelling SZ patients, using a comprehensive neuropsychological ă battery. Method: Three hundred sixty-nine community-dwelling stable SZ ă subjects (76.2% men, mean age 32.7 y) were included and tested with a ă comprehensive battery of neuropsychological tests. Abnormal CRP level ă was defined as >3 mg/L. Results: Multiple factor analysis revealed that ă abnormal CRP levels, found in 104 patients (28.2%), were associated ă with impaired General Intellectual Ability and Abstract Reasoning (aOR = ă 0.56, 95% CI 0.35-0.90, P = .014), independently of age, sex, education ă level, psychotic symptomatology, treatments, and addiction ă comorbidities. Abnormal CRP levels were also associated with the decline ă of all components of working memory (respectively effect size [ ES] = ă 0.25, P = .033; ES = 0.27, P = .04; ES = 0.33, P = .006; and ES = 0.38, ă P = .004) and a wide range of other impaired cognitive functions, ă including memory (ES = 0.26, P = .026), learning abilities (ES = 0.28, P ă = .035), semantic memory (ES = 0.26, P = .026), mental flexibility (ES = ă 0.26, P = .044), visual attention (ES = 0.23, P = .004) and speed of ă processing (ES = 0.23, P = .043). Conclusion: Our results suggest that ă abnormal CRP level is associated with cognitive impairment in SZ. ă Evaluating the effectiveness of neuroprotective anti-inflammatory ă strategies is needed in order to prevent cognitive impairment in SZ

Validation and refinement of the clinical staging model in a French cohort of outpatient with schizophrenia (FACE-SZ)

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