Auditory frequency modulation learning (‘auditory learning’) is a key component of targeted cognitive training (TCT) for schizophrenia. TCT can be effective in enhancing neurocognition and function in schizophrenia, but such gains require significant time and effort and elude many patients.

As a strategy to increase and/or accelerate TCT-induced clinical gains, we tested the dose- and time-course effects of the pro-attentional drug, amphetamine (AMPH; placebo, 2.5, 5 or 10 mg po; within-subject double-blind, order balanced) on auditory learning in schizophrenia patients [n = 32; M:F = 19:13; age 42.0 years (24–55)]. To understand predictors and/or mechanisms of AMPH-enhanced TCT, we also measured auditory fidelity (words-in-noise (WIN), quick speech-in-noise (QuickSIN)) and neurocognition (MATRICS comprehensive cognitive battery (MCCB)). Some measures were also acquired from age-matched healthy subjects (drug free; n = 10; M:F = 5:5).

Patients exhibited expected deficits in neurocognition. WIN and QuickSIN performance at low signal intensities was impaired in patients with low v. high MCCB attention/vigilance (A/V) scores; these deficits were corrected by AMPH, maximally at 2.5–5 mg (d's = 0.79–1.29). AMPH also enhanced auditory learning, with maximal effects at 5 mg (d = 0.93), and comparable effects 60 and 210 min post pill. ‘Pro-learning’ effects of AMPH and AMPH-induced gains in auditory fidelity were most evident in patients with low MCCB A/V scores.

These findings advance our understanding of the impact of pro-attentional interventions on auditory information processing and suggest dose- and time-course parameters for studies that assess the ability of AMPH to enhance the clinical benefits of TCT in schizophrenia patients.

听觉调频学习（“听觉学习”）是精神分裂症针对性认知训练 (TCT) 的关键组成部分。TCT 可有效增强精神分裂症患者的神经认知和功能，但这种效果需要大量的时间和精力，而且许多患者对此望而却步。

作为增加和/或加速 TCT 诱导的临床收益的策略，我们测试了促注意力药物苯丙胺（AMPH；安慰剂，2.5、5 或 10 mg po；受试者内双-盲目，顺序平衡）对精神分裂症患者听觉学习的影响[ n = 32；男:女 = 19:13; 年龄 42.0 岁 (24–55)]。为了了解 AMPH 增强 TCT 的预测因子和/或机制，我们还测量了听觉保真度（噪声中的单词 (WIN)、噪声中的快速语音 (QuickSIN)）和神经认知（MATRICS 综合认知电池 (MCCB)）。还从年龄匹配的健康受试者（无药物；n = 10；M:F = 5:5）中获得了一些测量值。

患者表现出预期的神经认知缺陷。低信号强度下的 WIN 和 QuickSIN 性能在 MCCB 注意力/警惕性 (A/V) 分数低和高的患者中受损；这些缺陷由 AMPH 纠正，最大剂量为 2.5–5 mg（d' s = 0.79–1.29）。AMPH 还增强了听觉学习，在 5 毫克 ( d = 0.93)时效果最大，药丸后 60 分钟和 210 分钟的效果相当。AMPH 的“促进学习”效应和 AMPH 诱导的听觉保真度增益在 MCCB A/V 分数低的患者中最为明显。

这些发现促进了我们对促注意干预对听觉信息处理的影响的理解，并为评估 AMPH 增强 TCT 对精神分裂症患者临床益处的能力的研究提出了剂量和时程参数。