Cognitive deficits are a core feature of schizophrenia, account for much of the impaired functioning associated with the disorder and are not responsive to existing treatments. In this review, we first describe the clinical presentation and natural history of these deficits. We then consider aetiological factors, highlighting how a range of similar genetic and environmental factors are associated with both cognitive function and schizophrenia. We then review the pathophysiological mechanisms thought to underlie cognitive symptoms, including the role of dopamine, cholinergic signalling and the balance between GABAergic interneurons and glutamatergic pyramidal cells. Finally, we review the clinical management of cognitive impairments and candidate novel treatments. 

/pdf/cognitive-impairment-in-schizophrenia-aetiology-22kkuuwc.pdf

Cognitive impairment in schizophrenia: aetiology, pathophysiology, and treatment

From cognitive maps to spatial schemas

Abstract Classically the human life-course is characterized by youth, middle age and old age. A wide range of biological, health and cognitive functions vary across this life-course. Here, using reported sleep duration from 730,187 participants across 63 countries, we find three distinct phases in the adult human life-course: early adulthood (19-33yrs), mid-adulthood (34-53yrs), and late adulthood (54+yrs). They appear stable across culture, gender, education and other demographics. During the third phase, where self-reported sleep duration increases with age, cognitive performance, as measured by spatial navigation, was found to have an inverted u-shape relationship with reported sleep duration: optimal performance peaks at 7 hours reported sleep. World-wide self-reported sleep duration patterns are geographically clustered, and are associated with economy, culture, and latitude. 

/pdf/reported-sleep-duration-reveals-segmentation-of-the-adult-507omn06.pdf

Reported sleep duration reveals segmentation of the adult life-course into three phases

http://www.thelancet.com/article/S2589750022001522/pdf

The promise of a model-based psychiatry: building computational models of mental ill health.

Spatial navigation and memory: A review of the similarities and differences relevant to brain models and age

The cultural and geographical properties of the environment have been shown to deeply influence cognition and mental health1-6. Living near green spaces has been found to be strongly beneficial7-11, and urban residence has been associated with a higher risk of some psychiatric disorders12-14-although some studies suggest that dense socioeconomic networks found in larger cities provide a buffer against depression15. However, how the environment in which one grew up affects later cognitive abilities remains poorly understood. Here we used a cognitive task embedded in a video game16 to measure non-verbal spatial navigation ability in 397,162 people from 38 countries across the world. Overall, we found that people who grew up outside cities were better at navigation. More specifically, people were better at navigating in environments that were topologically similar to where they grew up. Growing up in cities with a low street network entropy (for example, Chicago) led to better results at video game levels with a regular layout, whereas growing up outside cities or in cities with a higher street network entropy (for example, Prague) led to better results at more entropic video game levels. This provides evidence of the effect of the environment on human cognition on a global scale, and highlights the importance of urban design in human cognition and brain function. 

/pdf/entropy-of-city-street-networks-linked-to-future-spatial-300kgqld.pdf

Entropy of city street networks linked to future spatial navigation ability

Cognitive abilities can vary widely. Some people excel in certain skills, others struggle. However, not all those who describe themselves as gifted are. One possible influence on self-estimates is the surrounding culture. Some cultures may amplify self-assurance and others cultivate humility. Past research has shown that people in different countries can be grouped into a set of consistent cultural clusters with similar values and tendencies, such as attitudes to masculinity or individualism. Here we explored whether such cultural dimensions might relate to the extent to which populations in 46 countries overestimate or underestimate their cognitive abilities in the domain of spatial navigation. Using the Sea Hero Quest navigation test and a large sample (N = 383,187) we found cultural clusters of countries tend to be similar in how they self-rate ability relative to their actual performance. Across the world population sampled, higher self-ratings were associated with better performance. However, at the national level, higher self-ratings as a nation were not associated with better performance as a nation. Germanic and Near East countries were found to be most overconfident in their abilities and Nordic countries to be most under-confident in their abilities. Gender stereotypes may play a role in mediating this pattern, with larger national positive attitudes to male stereotyped roles (Hofstede's masculinity dimension) associated with a greater overconfidence in performance at the national level. We also replicate, with higher precision than prior studies, evidence that older men tend to overestimate their navigation skill more than other groups. These findings give insight into how culture and demographics may impact self-estimates of our abilities. 

/pdf/cultural-determinants-of-the-gap-between-self-estimated-jz9jm99v.pdf

Cultural determinants of the gap between self-estimated navigation ability and wayfinding performance: evidence from 46 countries

Water is abundant in Trinidad, but only 14% of the population receives piped water to their homes seven days a week for 24 hours a day. The rest struggle to meet their water needs through a number of strategies ranging from simple rainwater collection tanks to locally engineered dams. This article has three objectives: 1) to report on a preliminary ethnographic study of water acquisition and management processes in three Trinidadian communities, examining the impact of gender ideologies as a key component in the decisions, work patterns, values and meanings associated with water; 2) to situate the study within the larger research project, ‘Women, Gender and Water’ organized by the Centre for Gender and Development Studies, UWI St. Augustine; 3) to explore the nexus among international, national and local water discourses examining overlap and divergences among UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), national water policy and local processes at the village level. Conclusions point to the centrality of gender 1 I would like to extend my thanks to Rhoda Reddock, Patricia Mohammed and the staff of the CGDS, St.

/pdf/a-gift-from-god-gender-and-the-feminist-ethnography-of-water-27mutmvax0.pdf

"A Gift from God": Gender and the Feminist Ethnography of Water in Three Trinidadian Communities

There is an active debate concerning the association of handedness and spatial ability. Past studies used small sample sizes within a single country. Determining the effect of handedness on spatial ability requires a large, cross-cultural sample of participants, and a navigation task with real-world validity. Here, we overcome these challenges via the mobile app Sea Hero Quest. We analysed the navigation performance from 422,772 participants from 41 countries and found no reliable evidence for any difference in spatial ability between left- and right-handers across all countries. Using 749,037 participants from the larger sample, we replicate previous findings that age, gender, and country of residence have an impact on the prevalence of left-handedness, and found an effect of education on left-handedness prevalence in China, Indonesia, India, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. Our study clarifies the factors associated with spatial ability and outlines new ways in which cultural patterns influence handedness. Statement of Relevance What is the relation between handedness and navigation ability? Evidence so far has been mixed, and findings from small-scale and large-scale tasks seem to point in opposite directions. Part of the reason is that cultural and sociodemographic differences have a significant impact on both spatial ability and handedness. Tackling the question requires a large, cross-cultural sample of participants performing an ecologically valid navigation task. Here, we employ a mobile app, Sea Hero Quest, to test the navigation ability of a large number of participants across many different countries. What we find is that there is no reliable connection between handedness and navigation ability. Then, we use our data to explore the prevalence of left-handedness across countries, and find that age, gender, and country of residency all have an effect on the ratio of left-handedness. Moreover, we find an effect of education on left-handedness in China, Indonesia, India, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.

/pdf/handedness-and-its-association-with-education-and-spatial-7usqzncz.pdf

Handedness and its association with education and spatial navigation assessed in over 400,000 participants across 41 countries

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Papers

Entropy of city street networks linked to future spatial navigation ability

Cultural determinants of the gap between self-estimated navigation ability and wayfinding performance: evidence from 46 countries

"A Gift from God": Gender and the Feminist Ethnography of Water in Three Trinidadian Communities

Handedness and its association with education and spatial navigation assessed in over 400,000 participants across 41 countries