What Can The Eyes Tell Us About Schizophrenia?

Abstract

Have you ever had an imaginary friend? If you ever have, you probably did not physically see or hear them outside of your imagination. Unfortunately, some people see and hear things that are not actually real. This can be a feature of a mental disorder known as schizophrenia. There is much scientific interest in studying mental health, and scientists have many tools at their disposal to investigate disorders like schizophrenia. One of the ways psychologists study how the brain works is by using an eye-tracker—a device that has a camera and a computer and can determine where a person is looking. People diagnosed with schizophrenia often show unusual patterns of eye movements that give scientists clues about how the disorder works and affects patients. This information also gives medical professionals a valuable tool by which to diagnose their patients.