THE FACTORIAL STRUCTURE OF SCHIZOTYPY .2. COGNITIVE ASYMMETRY, AROUSAL, HANDEDNESS, AND SEX

We replicate relations between factors of schizotypy and cognitive asy mmetry patterns assessed with recognition memory for words versus face s, and with arousal levels assessed with self-report scales. The withd rawn factor or subscales of loneliness and constricted affect were ass ociated as before with a right hemisphere, face advantage asymmetry, a s was physical anhedonia in males. Subjects with the opposite asymmetr y and those high on the active factor-eccentricity and odd speech-had high self-report activation scores. These relations better characteriz ed males who also had higher scores on the asymmetry-related factors. Females had higher scores on the third unreality factor-unusual percep tions and odd beliefs-which showed inconsistent relations with cogniti ve asymmetry. Non-right-handedness was associated with both hemisphere asymmetry patterns suggesting that the structural mechanism responsib le for non-right-handedness is associated with bidirectional hemispher ic functional imbalance. The results support the importance of pattern s of functional asymmetry in underpinning different aspects of schizot ypy.