Asymmetry of Lateralised Hemispheric Functions in Schizophrenia

Abstract

The Quality Extinction Test was used to detect lateralised abnormalities of hemispheric functions in schizophrenic patients. Course of illness significantly affected the distribution of tactile extinctions, chronic patients showing more left-side extinctions than sub-chronic ones. Age significantly affected the number of left extinctions, and sex the number of right extinctions. The importance of clinical and epidemiological characteristics of the patients in determining the quality and degree of hemispheric dysfunction in schizophrenia was confirmed.