Neuroleptic effects on interhemispheric and intrahemispheric performance of tactile discrimination tasks by schizophrenic patients

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The contribution of neuroleptic medication to impaired interhemispheric integration of information, and the relationship between the apparent interhemispheric failure and a unilateral dysfunction, were examined in 12 acutely psychotic patients. The patients performed tactile discrimination tasks, under conditions of intrahemispheric and interhemispheric presentation, before the introduction of any antipsychotic medication, and again after a period of treatment with neuroleptics. In unmedicated patients, both unilateral left hemispheric and interhemispheric deficits were found. However, whereas treatment with neuroleptics normalized the unilateral left hemispheric deficit, it did not have any effect on the performance of the interhemispheric tasks. These findings suggest that the impairment in interhemispheric integration is independent of the unilateral dysfunction and is not modulated by treatment with neuroleptics.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)289-296
Number of pages8
JournalPsychiatry Research
Volume32
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1990
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Acknowledgments. The research reported was supported by the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research.I thank P. Flor-Henry and P. Green for their comments, and J. Lind for his advice. The help and cooperation of the psychiatrists and staff of the Admission Service, Alberta Hospital Edmonton, are gratefully acknowledged.

Keywords

  • Schizophrenia
  • asymmetry
  • interhemispheric integration
  • neuroleptics

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Psychiatry and Mental health
  • Biological Psychiatry

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