Semantic ambiguity resolution in positive schizotypy: a right hemisphere interpretation.
Positive schizotypal traits have been associated with right hemisphere activation. Previous research has indicated that the left and right hemispheres differ in their processing of semantic ambiguity; specifically, given sufficient time, the left hemisphere primes dominant meanings and inhibits subordinate meanings, and the right hemisphere primes both dominant and subordinate meanings. The authors examined whether individuals who differed in positive schizotypy demonstrated different patterns of priming on a semantic ambiguity task, reflective of differences in hemispheric activation. Individuals low in schizotypy demonstrated the expected pattern of priming the dominant meaning while inhibiting the subordinate meaning. Individuals high in schizotypy demonstrated similar priming of the dominant meaning but no inhibition of the subordinate meaning. The role of this failure of inhibition in the generation of schizotypal thought is discussed.
Grimshaw
Gina M
GM
School of Psychology, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand. gina.grimshaw@vuw.ac.nz
Bryson
Frances M
FM
Atchley
Ruth Ann
RA
Humphrey
Megan K
MK
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D012569:Schizotypal Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012660:Semantics; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult