Normal asymmetry of the planum temporale in patients with schizophrenia. Three-dimensional cortical morphometry with MRI.
BACKGROUND
Abnormal cerebral anatomical lateralisation has been reported in schizophrenia and may implicate anomalous neurodevelopment in the aetiology of this disease. A popular recent hypothesis has predicted that such disturbances in normal lateralisation should be especially apparent in the morphology of the temporal lobes.


METHODS
A temporal cortical region lying in the plane of the Sylvian fissure--known as the planum temporale--exhibits pronounced leftward asymmetry in normal right-handed males. We compared lateralisation of the planum temporale in schizophrenic and control males using MRI surface-rendering morphometry of the supratemporal cortex.


RESULTS
Contrary to the lateralisation hypothesis, normal patterns of leftward planum asymmetry were detected in both the schizophrenic and control groups. Schizophrenics and controls also exhibited a predicted symmetry in the bilateral areas of Heschl's gyrus, a supratemporal cortical structure immediately anterior to the planum.


CONCLUSIONS
These data do not support the notion that neurodevelopmental mechanisms of cerebral asymmetry are abnormal in schizophrenia.
Kulynych
J J
JJ
Human Neuropsychology Laboratory, American University, Washington, DC 20016-8062, USA.
Vladar
K
K
Fantie
B D
BD
Jones
D W
DW
Weinberger
D R
DR
D000328:Adult; D001931:Brain Mapping; D004292:Dominance, Cerebral / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D019965:Neurocognitive Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012016:Reference Values; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000473:pathology*