Neuroimaging of semantic processing in schizophrenia: a parametric priming approach.

The use of fMRI and other neuroimaging techniques in the study of cognitive language processes in psychiatric and non-psychiatric conditions has led at times to discrepant findings. Many issues complicate the study of language, especially in psychiatric populations. For example, the use of subtractive designs can produce misleading results. We propose and advocate for a semantic priming parametric approach to the study of semantic processing using fMRI methodology. Implications of this parametric approach are discussed in view of current functional neuroimaging research investigating the semantic processing disturbance of schizophrenia. Copyright 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.