Smaller right ear (left hemisphere) advantage for dichotic fused words in patients with schizophrenia.
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.
Bruder
G
G
Department of Biopsychology, New York State Psychiatric Institute, NY 10032, USA.
Rabinowicz
E
E
Towey
J
J
Brown
A
A
Kaufmann
C A
CA
Amador
X
X
Malaspina
D
D
Gorman
J M
JM
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
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents