title: Smaller right ear (left hemisphere) advantage for dichotic fused words in patients with schizophrenia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purposes of this study were to compare right ear (left hemisphere) advantage for dichotic words in schizophrenia and depression and to assess its association with antipsychotic medication, symptom ratings, and gender.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two schizophrenic patients and 65 patients with major depression were given the Fused Rhymed Words Test, a dichotic listening measure of hemispheric dominance for language.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An earlier finding of smaller left hemisphere advantage in schizophrenic patients was replicated. There was no significant change in ear advantage in a subgroup of the schizophrenic patients tested when they were taking neuroleptics and when they were not. The smaller left hemisphere advantage in the schizophrenic patients was not dependent on gender but was related to symptom ratings on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings are consistent with a left hemisphere dysfunction in schizophrenia, which is associated with positive symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biopsychology, New York State Psychiatric Institute, NY 10032, USA.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bruder
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rabinowicz
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Towey
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Kaufmann
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Amador
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Malaspina
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gorman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis; D004007:Dichotic Listening Tests; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents