Compared 20 Ss within the schizophrenia spectrum and 20 non-schizophrenia spectrum controls in terms of their MMPI and Rorschach performance. Ss also were studied in terms of their ability to identify a briefly exposed visual stimulus when it was followed by a noninformational mask stimulus and when it was not. Ss did not differ on the MMPI or on their ability to identify an unmasked target stimulus. They differed significantly in the number of deviant verbalizations, a special scoring category of the Rorschach. Ss also differed in their ability to identify the briefly exposed stimulus when it was followed by the noninformational mask. Results indicated a relationship among the deviant verbalization, the masking procedure, and the schizophrenia spectrum.