DIMENSIONS OF SCHIZOTYPY AND LEXICAL DECISION IN THE 2 HEMISPHERES

combined lexical decision-priming experimental paradigm was used to in vestigate the relation between hemisphere asymmetry and dimensions of schizotypy. After performing a lexical decision task for lateralized w ord and non-word targets following neutral and related priming sentenc es, 60 male university students filled out the Oxford-Liverpool Invent ory of Feelings and Experiences (O-LIFE). According to their scores on each of the schizotypy dimensions, the participants were divided into high-, medium-, and low-schizotypy groups and their lexical decision accuracy and reaction time were analyzed. On two dimensions of schizot ypy (Unusual Experiences and Cognitive Disorganization), less effectiv e linguistic processing was uncovered for the left hemisphere, whereas on the Impulsive Nonconformity dimension relatively more effective pr ocessing was found for the right hemisphere. Issues related to the spe cificity of the neurological and psychological mechanisms underlying t hese results are:discussed and the lexical decision-priming paradigm w as recommended as a promising means of exploring these issues. (C) 199 8 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.