Lateral asymmetries in auditory acuity distinguish hallucinating from nonhallucinating schizophrenic patients.
Bilateral absolute auditory thresholds for frequencies ranging from 250 to 8000 Hz were examined on two occasions in schizophrenic patients and normal control subjects. Patients were classified as hallucinators and nonhallucinators on the basis of symptom ratings on both occasions. Previous evidence of better right than left ear acuity in schizophrenia was replicated but was found to characterize nonhallucinating patients only. Hallucinators showed no lateral asymmetry and inferior right ear acuity as compared with that in nonhallucinators. The results were reliable on retest. Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale scores of positive and negative symptoms in some cases differentiated hallucinators from nonhallucinators. The relationship of verbal hallucinations and right ear-left temporal lobe functions is discussed, together with complexities in cerebral laterality-syndrome relationships.
Mathew
V M
VM
Department of Psychiatry, University of Leicester, U.K.
Gruzelier
J H
JH
Liddle
P F
PF
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001307:Auditory Perception; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006212:Hallucinations; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology