How timing and sensory predictions are altered in people with schizophrenia

Sensory and Cognitive Predictions, and Their Disruptions in Schizophrenia

This study tests whether tiny timing changes in a visual motion illusion disrupt sensory prediction more in people with schizophrenia than in people without it.

Quick facts

• Phase: Not applicable
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 68 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 60 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Centre Psychothérapique de Nancy (Academic / other)
• Locations: 2 sites (Marseille and 1 other locations)
• Trial ID: NCT06361407 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

Participants view an illusion where two moving squares collide and disappear while subtle timing perturbations (millisecond-scale accelerations and rebounds) are introduced during their trajectories. Neurotypical observers normally perceive a brief gap at collision because sensory predictions create a mismatch when contrast disappears, and this task measures that prediction error. The study compares responses from adults with schizophrenia to those of controls to see if patients are abnormally sensitive to trajectory changes. Behavioral responses to the illusion will be used to probe differences in sensory prediction and timing processing.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults aged 18–60 with a diagnosis of schizophrenia who can give informed consent, have adequate vision, and meet the study's exclusion criteria are ideal candidates.

Not a fit: People with recent substance use disorders, significant neurological disease, severe visual impairment, certain personality disorders, or those who are pregnant or otherwise ineligible are unlikely to benefit from participating.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the work could improve understanding of how disrupted sensory prediction contributes to psychotic symptoms and help develop objective tests or targets for treatment.

How similar studies have performed: Previous experiments have shown the collision illusion and altered timing/prediction in schizophrenia, and this study builds on that prior work by introducing novel millisecond-scale perturbations.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Male or female;
* Age between 18 and 60 inclusive;
* Subject having dated and signed the consent form prior to the start of any trial-related procedure (guardian or curator where applicable);
* Member of a social security scheme or beneficiary of such a scheme.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Psychoactive substance use disorders (as defined by the DSM-V) (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-V);
* Use of benzodiazepines, hallucinogens (in the period preceding before inclusion, for a duration equivalent to 5 half-lives of the product) or cannabis (in the 2 months preceding inclusion);
* Neurological pathology or sequelae;
* Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD);
* Borderline personality disorder;
* Disabling sensory disorders (visual acuity \<0.8);
* Person deprived of liberty or under court protection;
* Pregnant, parturient or breast-feeding women;
* Subjects in a period of exclusion defined by another clinical study.

Where this trial is running

Marseille and 1 other locations

• CHU Sainte Marguerite, APHM — Marseille, France (Recruiting)
• Centre Hospitalier Drôme Vivarais — Montéléger, France (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Anne Giersch, MD PhD — Institut National de la Santé Et de la Recherche Médicale, France
• Study coordinator: Anne Giersch, MD PhD

Conditions Schizophrenia; Sensory Processing Disorder; sensory prediction; motion perception; prediction error