While the primary interest of the laboratory is in studying Schizophrenia, measures are being investigated which would be applicable to examining the features of all major mental illnesses. Academically, laboratory measures are being sought which will define the disorder and explain the mechanisms of breakdown in intellectual functioning. These types of measures could increase knowledge of etiology and the effect of illness on various structures of the brain. Ultimately, this information will be useful in refining treatment procedures. Clinically, these measures are useful in measuring treatment response and outcome, as well as defining the features of cognitive difficulty.
Current research is focused on closer examination of various mechanisms of psychosis.
Several tasks are being used to measure memory, attention, perception, handedness, motor disturbances, and language dysfunction. Assessment of neurological and clinical psychopathologic characteristics is also developed for each study.