Hearing 'messages' embedded in noise could be early sign of schizophrenia

EurekAlert ^ | 10/24/07 | Yale University

[crazyshrink]

Hearing 'messages' embedded in noise could be early sign of schizophrenia New Haven, Conn.—A tendency to extract messages from meaningless noise could be an early sign of schizophrenia, according to a study by Yale School of Medicine researchers.

The study this month in the British Journal of Psychiatry reported on 43 participants diagnosed with “prodromal symptoms”— meaning they exhibited early warning signs of psychosis such as social withdrawal, mild perceptual alterations, or misinterpretation of social cues.

Participants in the study were randomly assigned to take the anti-psychotic medication olanzapine or a placebo, and then symptoms and neuropsychological function were assessed for up to two years.

During the “babble task,” participants listened with headphones to overlapping recordings of six speakers reading neutral texts, which made the words virtually incomprehensible. The participants were asked to repeat any words or phrases that they heard. Only four words—“increase,” “children,” “A-OK,” and “Republican”—were consistently reproduced.

Eighty percent of the participants who “heard” phrases of four or more words in length went on to develop a schizophrenia-related illness during times that they were not taking olanzapine, said the lead author, Ralph Hoffman, M.D., associate professor of psychiatry. In contrast, only six percent of those in the study converted to schizophrenia-related illness if the phrases “heard” were less than three words in length.

“A tendency to extract message-like meaning from meaningless sensory information can, over time, produce a ‘matrix of unreality’ that triggers the initial psychotic phase of schizophrenia-spectrum disorders,” Hoffman said.

He said further research is needed because of the small size of this study. However, if these findings are verified, Hoffman added, they could provide an inexpensive tool for identifying those individuals with early warning signs of schizophrenia who would most likely benefit from preventive drug therapy.

### British Journal of Psychiatry 191: pp 355-356 doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.106.031195

[ApplegateRanch]

So, is this akin to seeing “pictures” in wood grain, marbalized-pattern countertops, etc?

Or, would it be seeing “pictures” in a TV screen full of signaless snow?

Or, feeding four videos onto one screen, and “seeing” scenes?

I really, really need to know, since my present methods of inducing mass psychosis in my neighbors has no objective means of measuring results.

[OSHA]

Messages embedded in noise? Does Ham Radio cause schizophrenia?

LOL I was just thinking about trying to dig out a call sign on a crystal radio DX contest!

[N. Theknow]

A tendency to extract messages from meaningless noise could be an early sign of schizophrenia

Happens a lot when I am watching the NFL.

"What the Hell is she talking about?"

[camle]

sure i talk to myself - it’s the only way i can an intelligent conversation.;-)

[listenhillary]

Have 5 kids and keep them outside all of the time. Then there will be no doubt as to your inducing mass psychosis on your neighbors.

[saganite]

If you go to DU and see messages in the noise you might also have schizophrenia.

[Kevmo]

So THAT’s why everyone who listens to NPR is nuts.

[aruanan]

During the “babble task,” participants listened with headphones to overlapping recordings of six speakers reading neutral texts, which made the words virtually incomprehensible.

Oh, neutral texts. I thought it said, "neural texts", as in neurobiology papers. I'd say that most of what came from one speaker would be virtually incomprehensible. I wonder what kind of things people could believe they hear in readings in an unknown language if only incomprehensibility were required.

[Rick.Donaldson]

LOL! Does that include those of who’ve spent most of our lives listening to shortwave radios through headsets and hearing “voices” through the static? LOL!!!!! Idiots.

[FreedomCalls]

I suppose if you see animal shapes in puffy clouds you in the early stages of schizophrenia too?

[Ignatz]

Aw, crap! I was just reading DUmmie FUnnies for the entertainment!
I was finding all kinds of words and phrases in that noise. Some of it quite hilarious.
Now I find out I got...ummmm...what was it I got again?

[Lijahsbubbe]

A-OK
increase
children
Republican

At the risk of sounding paranoid schizophrenic, I wonder why these words were chosen in this study at the Yale School of Medicine. ; )

Looks like they're trying to give subliminal messages to persuade republicans on the health care bill!

[Erasmus]

I wonder what kind of things people could believe they hear in readings in an unknown language if only incomprehensibility were required.

I dunno. Now 'scuse me while I kiss this guy.

[matthew fuller]

"So, is this akin to seeing “pictures” in wood grain, marbalized-pattern countertops, etc? "

I read a serious article about this once- about little skulls in the liquor advertisements in the ice cubes. I looked, and sure enough, there appeared to be "something" there.

[matthew fuller]

We still haven’t developed schizophrenia, neither one of us.

[pabianice]

A real bummer for the Dem Congress, huh?

[Darksheare]

Don’t the news media and Libtards extract meaningful messages from useless noise?
That explains everything.

[stevio]

Sounds like what DUers walk around muttering.

[boop]

"So THAT’s why everyone who listens to NPR is nuts."

I was in my doctor's waiting room today and they had NPR on. The host kept interviewing people who explained how the California fires were caused by global warming, people building houses in Arizona, being selfish with water for their personal use, etc. I DID think I was going crazy listening to that crap. What kind of pea-brain could be duped by such insane blather?

[Mrs. Don-o]

They should also check hearing: not just ear acuity, but central auditory processing. I know, as a hard-of-hearing person, that I habitually "construe" muffled or inarticulate sounds into quasi-coherence, simply because I never hear perfectly clear, well-enunciated speech, so I always have to go with my best guess.