cognitive

• Frith et al. identified two kinds of dysfunctional thought processing that could underlie some symptoms:

  • Central control.
  • Meta-representation.
• Central control

  • The ability to suppress automatic responses while performing deliberate actions.
• What does the malfunction of central control explain?

  Disorganized speech and thought - the patient cannot suppress automatic thoughts and speech triggered by other thoughts.
• Meta-representation

  The cognitive ability to reflect on thoughts and behaviours.

  • Allows insight into their own intentions as well as the ability to interpret the reactions of others.
• What does the dysfunction of meta-representation explain?

  It disrupts our ability to recognise our own actions and thoughts as our own rather than somebody else.

  • hallucinations - hearing voices and delusions
  • thought insertion - the belief that others have projected thoughts into their mind.