[Associative processes disorders in schizophrenia].

This paper tries to approach and systematize knowledge about the character of associative process disorders in schizophrenia. In considering schizophrenia as an illness composed of various symptoms which may lead to different clinical progress, the paper is mainly focused on disorganization of thinking and, consequently, speaking and communication disorders. Authors reviewed various concept of pathogenesis and course of associative process disorders in schizophrenic patients. Special attention was paid to a connectionist model of disturbed associations. This model originates from cognitive psychology and assumes that concepts are represented as networks in the mental lexicon. Following from this model, a hypothesis was presented, claiming that disturbed associations in schizophrenia may be related to abnormalities in semantic networks. Results of research, supporting this hypothesis, were referred. Moreover, authors tried to describe the relationship between associative processes disorders in schizophrenia and abnormalities in neurophysiological (event--related potentials) and neuropathological (MRI) examinations. At least hypotheses describing the role of neurotransmission disorders was presented.