Final answer:
Schizophrenic patients are likely to show deficits in working memory when compared to healthy controls on the Wisconsin card sorting test due to prefrontal cortex dysfunction linked to dopaminergic and glutamatergic signaling abnormalities.
Step-by-step explanation:
When researchers compare working memory abilities in patients with schizophrenia versus healthy controls using the Wisconsin card sorting test, they are likely to observe deficits in the schizophrenic patients. These deficits stem from the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for organizing information and is known to function abnormally in individuals with schizophrenia. Research suggests that schizophrenic patients may show difficulties in tasks requiring the generation of lists or sequences due to compromised prefrontal function and associated disruptions in neurological circuits, possibly involving dopamine and glutamate signaling pathways. Moreover, due to potential dopaminergic neuron malfunction and treatment side effects, schizophrenic patients might also display cognitive impairments that could interfere with their ability to successfully complete the Wisconsin card sorting test.