Left hemisphere hyperactivity in schizophrenia: Abnormality inherent to psychosis or neuroleptic side-effects?

Rachel Tomer, Matti Mintz, Michael S. Myslobodsky

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Studies measuring reflective lateral eye movements (LEM) in schizophrenic patients revealed predominance of rightward LEMs, which was interpreted as suggesting left hemisphere overactivation in schizophrenia. In the present study LEM behaviour of medicated schizophrenics was compared to that of non-medicated patients. Rightward LEMs were predominant in a group of patients treated with phenothiazines with piperazine side chains, whereas among schizophrenics treated with non-piperazine drugs leftward LEMs were more predominant. This finding suggests that previous reports on LEM directionality in schizophrenia may have been confounded by neuroleptic medication. The possible effect of piperazine derivatives on hemispheric balance is discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)168-170
Number of pages3
JournalPsychopharmacology
Volume77
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1982
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Hemispheric asymmetry
  • Lateral eye movements
  • Neuroleptics
  • Piperazine
  • Schizophrenia

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pharmacology

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