The effect of an attentional manipulation on eye
tracking dysfunction (ETD) in the early stages of schizophrenia
was examined in 34 recent-onset schizophrenic patients
and 24 demographically matched normal subjects over a 1-year
period. An attentional enhancement manipulation improved
eye tracking performance of recent-onset schizophrenic
patients more than that of normal subjects. Eye tracking
level also was moderately stable for both groups over the
course of 1 year. The possible role of attentional allocation
in ETD highlights the need for further examination of the
interface between attentional and eye tracking measures
of vulnerability to schizophrenia.