Positive schizotypy and the experience of creativity: The distinctive roles of suspiciousness and dispositional mindfulness

Taking the edge off: a feasibility randomized controlled trial of an online mindfulness-based intervention to reduce suspiciousness/paranoia in high positive schizotypy

Positive schizotypy can uniquely predict the development of psychosis with suspiciousness/paranoia having emerged as a key risk factor, pointing to significant worth in reducing this aspect in individuals with high positive schizotypy. Reduced paranoia in the general population following brief online mindfulness training has been previously reported. This study investigated the feasibility of a 40-day online mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) (n = 12) in the individuals with high positive schizotypy characterized by high suspiciousness/paranoia and to estimate its effect on paranoia as compared with an active control condition using reflective journaling (n = 12). The outcome measures were self-reported trait and VR-induced state paranoia, completed at baseline, after 10 days and post-intervention. The feasibility criteria included retention, adherence, engagement, and acceptability. There was 100% retention, excellent adherence to content and engagement, with an average MBI session completion rate of 91%. Acceptability, indexed by a self-rated motivation to continue practice post-intervention, was also high. No MBI effect on trait paranoia was observed; however, the MBI group showed a reduction in the VR-induced state paranoia with a medium-to-large effect (d = 0.63). The findings support conducting larger-scale randomized controlled trials to evaluate the effects of online MBIs on reducing suspiciousness/paranoia to mitigate psychosis risk in individuals with high positive schizotypy. Clinical Trial Registration:https://www.isrctn.com/, identifier ISRCTN78697391.

The Moderation Effect of Approach Motivation Between Schizotypy and Creative Ideational Behavior

Introduction

The schizotypy-creativity link has been studied from different perspectives over the past few decades, yet the results of this relationship are inconsistent in the literature. Previous studies have suggested that two basic motivational systems-Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS, avoidance motivation) and Behavioral Activation System (BAS, approach motivation)-underlie the relationship between schizotypy and creativity. Few empirical studies, however, have examined how the relationship interacts with other variables. This study fills these gaps and explores the role of the approach and avoidance motivation assessed by trait behavioral activation and inhibition in the link between schizotypy as a dimensional personality trait and creative ideational behavior as a measure of creativity.

Method

Undergraduate students (N = 388) completed questionnaires including the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ) measuring 3 dimensions of schizotypy, Runco Ideational Behavior Scale (RIBS) measuring creative ideational behavior, and BIS/BAS Scales measuring trait behavioral motivation. Bivariate Pearson correlation was computed, and hierarchical linear regression was performed to explore the effects of schizotypy, BIS/BAS, and their interaction on creative ideational behavior. The conditional effect of schizotypy based on different levels of the moderator was further tested.

Results

The total score, positive dimension and disorganized dimension of SPQ were all positively correlated with RIBS, BAS, and BIS. Negative dimension of SPQ was not significantly correlated with the RIBS score but was positively correlated with BIS. Additionally, after controlling gender and age, BAS significantly moderated the relationship between the positive and disorganized dimensions of schizotypy and creative ideational behavior measured by RIBS. However, BIS was not a significant moderator.

Discussion

The findings of this study regarding the relationships between different dimensions of schizotypy, two motivational systems, and creative ideational behavior were mostly consistent with previous findings. The significant moderated effect of BAS on the relationship between two dimensions of schizotypy and creative ideational behavior made significant contributions to the understanding of the relationship between schizotypy and creativity.

Activation of the left medial temporal gyrus and adjacent brain areas during affective theory of mind processing correlates with trait schizotypy in a nonclinical population

Schizophrenia, a severe psychiatric disorder, is associated with abnormal brain activation during theory of mind (ToM) processing. Researchers recently suggested that there is a continuum running from subclinical schizotypal personality traits to fully expressed schizophrenia symptoms. Nevertheless, it remains unclear whether schizotypal personality traits in a nonclinical population are associated with atypical brain activation during ToM tasks. Our aim was to investigate correlations between fMRI brain activation during affective ToM (ToMA) and cognitive ToM (ToMC) tasks and scores on the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ) and the Basic Empathy Scale in 39 healthy individuals. The total SPQ score positively correlated with brain activation during ToMA processing in clusters extending from the left medial temporal gyrus (MTG), lingual gyrus and fusiform gyrus to the parahippocampal gyrus (Brodmann area: 19). During ToMA processing, the right inferior occipital gyrus, right MTG, precuneus and posterior cingulate cortex negatively correlated with the emotional disconnection subscore and the total score of self-reported empathy. These posterior brain regions are known to be involved in memory and language, as well as in creative reasoning, in nonclinical individuals. Our findings highlight changes in brain processing associated with trait schizotypy in nonclinical individuals during ToMA but not ToMC processing.

Cultivation of Innovative Ability of College Physical Education Students Based on the Internet of Things Multimedia Environment

Innovation is the source of social progress, and all walks of life need to cultivate innovative talents. Therefore, it is also very important to cultivate innovative ability in physical education students in colleges and universities. The purpose of this paper is to study the cultivation of students’ innovative ability of physical education majors in colleges and universities based on the multimedia environment of the Internet of things and to open up a new path for the cultivation of college students’ innovative ability. In this paper, a terminal collaborative indoor positioning algorithm based on RSSI fingerprint optimization was proposed to study the innovation ability of physical education students in colleges and universities. Through experimental analysis, college A was taken as the research object, and 1500 students were investigated. Innovation had a very important position in the hearts of 76.21% of students, and 3.83% of students believed that innovation was not important. In the minds of most people, innovation was still very important, which showed that schools still had a certain effect on the education of students’ innovative consciousness. The experimental results obtained showed that the Internet of things technology played an important role in the research on the innovation ability of students majoring in physical education in colleges and universities.

Factors influencing schizotypal personality trait-dependent immersion and digital media usage: Adaptation and maladaptation

Immersion in the digital environment has been widely researched; however, the effects of adaptive and maladaptive schizotypal personality traits on immersion have received relatively little attention up till now. This study investigates the factors of personal immersion while using entertainment and digital communication applications and other variables such as problematic internet usage, and Facebook addiction. The Immersive Tendency Questionnaire was applied to measure participants' tendency to experience artistic and life-like scenarios in traditional settings (reading a book and watching a movie) and digital environments (playing computer games and using the internet). The study was conducted with 717 college students and graduate persons including, 186 males (mean age: 28.49) and 531 females (mean age: 28.4). The results show that lowered focusing abilities are directly linked with deficiencies in self-coherence, and maladaptive behavior that manifests in problematic internet and Facebook usage. Furthermore, the attention/focusing ability during immersion is accompanied by coherent self-structure and psychological well-being. Therefore, for people who have adequate focusing skills and coherent self-structure, the usage of social media and computer gaming can be considered adequate digital tools for developing their cognitive and social skills.

The Relationship Among Mentalization, Mindfulness, Working Memory, and Schizotypal Personality Traits in the General Population

Individuals with high schizotypal traits are less able to observe, describe, and monitor inner feelings, thoughts, and experiences, commonly referred to as mindfulness and mentalization. High schizotypy is also associated with impaired working memory (WM). However, the relationship among mindfulness, mentalization, WM, and schizotypal traits is unknown. Three hundred individuals from the community (mean age: 38.0 years, SD = 10.5; 49.3% women) completed questionnaires examining schizotypal traits, mindfulness, and mentalization and performed working memory tasks. Results revealed that mentalization was a general predictor of schizotypal traits, including unusual experiences, cognitive disorganization, introverted anhedonia, and impulsive nonconformity, when the effect of mindfulness and working memory was controlled. We also found a positive correlation between mindfulness and mentalization. Low mindfulness and mentalization performances were associated with high schizotypy. However, poor working memory was only weakly linked to cognitive disorganization and introverted anhedonia. These findings suggest that weak mentalization is a core feature of schizotypy independent of mindfulness and working memory.