Introduction. There is now significant evidence that prediction error signalling is mediated by dopamine in the midbrain, and that dopamine dysfunction is implicated in people experiencing psychotic symptoms, including delusions. There has also been significant theorizing and experimentation concerning the remaining link in this triad, namely that deviant prediction error signalling produces or maintains psychotic symptoms. Methods. The research supporting the link between prediction error signalling and delusional symptoms was reviewed. Numerous studies indirectly support this link, but only one set of studies claim to directly test this hypothesis by combining three crucial elements: a patient sample, a manipulation of prediction error and neuroimaging. This particular set of studies were examined in detail. Results. Important methodological limitations in these studies were observed, and a reinterpretation of their data was offered. Conclusions. Methodological inconsistencies significantly weaken the claims made by these studies, but their data are consistent with current theorizing and they are instructive for future lines of inquiry in this field.
Delusions and prediction error: re-examining the behavioural evidence for disrupted error signalling in delusion formation
Oren Griffiths,R. Langdon,M. L. Le Pelley,M. Coltheart
Published 2014 in Cognitive Neuropsychiatry
ABSTRACT
PUBLICATION RECORD
- Publication year
2014
- Venue
Cognitive Neuropsychiatry
- Publication date
2014-05-28
- Fields of study
Medicine, Psychology
- Identifiers
- External record
- Source metadata
Semantic Scholar, PubMed
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CLAIMS
CONCEPTS
- delusions
Fixed false beliefs considered in this paper as the symptom outcome of interest.
- dopamine
A midbrain neurotransmitter implicated here in mediating prediction error signalling.
- methodological limitations
Design and analysis weaknesses in the directly relevant studies that constrain interpretation of their findings.
Aliases: methodological inconsistencies
- neuroimaging
Brain-imaging methods used here to observe neural activity during prediction error tasks.
- patient sample
A participant group made up of patients rather than healthy controls, used to study clinical symptoms.
- prediction error manipulation
An experimental change to task conditions designed to alter prediction error signalling during testing.
Aliases: manipulation of prediction error
- prediction error signalling
A neural signalling process in which outcomes are compared with expectations and the mismatch is represented.
Aliases: prediction error signaling
- psychotic symptoms
Clinical symptoms of psychosis discussed as the broader category that includes delusions.
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