Brain speed in children linked to psychosis
Children whose brains process information more slowly are at a greater risk of psychotic experiences, according to a study.
The episodes may include hearing voices, seeing things that are not there or holding unrealistic beliefs. Research has previously shown youngsters with such experiences are more likely to develop psychotic illnesses in later life.
Experts from Bristol and Cardiff universities examined cognitive test scores of 6,784 children aged eight, 10 and 11, then examined whether the result was linked to psychotic episodes aged 12.
They found children who performed poorly in the tests – to assess information processing, attention, memory, reasoning and problem-solving skills – were at greater risk of the experiences.