Language and crossed finger localization in patients with schizophrenia.
Language deficits are frequently reported in studies of patients with schizophrenia. The present study sought to test the hypothesis that such deficits are related to callosal function in this group. The FAS test of verbal fluency and Perin's Spoonerisms test of phonological processing were the tests of language. Callosal function was assessed using a Crossed Finger Localisation Test (CFLT), which is a measure of the interhemispheric transfer of somatosensory information. Patients with schizophrenia performed less well than controls on measures of language function, as well as on the CFLT. Significant positive correlations between CFLT performance and language function were present in the patient group, but not the control group. These findings extend on previous studies that report functional abnormalities of the corpus callosum in schizophrenia and are consistent with the hypothesis that language deficits in schizophrenia are related to impaired callosal functioning in this group. However, other explanations cannot be ruled out.
Rushe
Teresa M
TM
School of Psychological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom. teresa.rushe@manchester.ac.uk
O'Neill
Francis A
FA
Mulholland
Ciaran
C
D000328:Adult; D003337:Corpus Callosum / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D007807:Language Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012564:Schizophrenic Language; D014705:Verbal Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D014888:Wechsler Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data