Reactive gaze laterality in schizophrenic patients

R. Tomer, M. Mintz, A. Levi, M. S. Myslobodsky

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Reflective lateral eye movements (LEMs) in response to questions of different categories are indicative of differential hemispheric reactivity. These LEMs were studied in schizophrenic patients and normal subjects, in response to 24 questions (12 visual-emotional and 12 verbalneutral). Two categories of saccades were observed: short-latency LEMs (S-LEMs) and long-latency LEMs (L-LEMs). S-LEMs are believed to be associated with orienting response mechanism. L-LEMs are considered to be related to decision-making or formulating hemispheric-activity-dependent response strategy. In the present study, a general trend of leftward LEMs was found among normals regardless of the question's category, whereas schizophrenics tended to show predominantly rightward LEMs. This suggests that individual cognitive style, rather than task variables, affects LEM direction. The two types of LEMs and their different involvement in hemispheric activity are discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)115-127
Number of pages13
JournalBiological Psychology
Volume9
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1979
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience
  • Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology

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