CORRELATION BETWEEN LEFT FRONTAL PHOSPHOLIPIDS AND WISCONSIN CARD SORT TEST-PERFORMANCE IN SCHIZOPHRENIA

The relationship between frontal lobe phospholipid measures as measure d by in vivo (31)phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging a nd performance on the Wisconsin Card Sort Test was examined in 16 chro nic schizophrenic patients and 13 normal controls. Lower left frontal phosphomonoester levels in the schizophrenics were associated with few er categories achieved, lower percent conceptual level, and greater to tal errors. No significant correlations between frontal phospholipid m easures and performance on the WCST were noted in the controls. The re sults suggest a relationship between altered left frontal phospholipid metabolism and a specific measure, of frontal lobe neuropsychological functioning.