Hemispheric asymmetry and psychopathological dimensions in drug-free patients with schizophrenia

Several neuropsychological models of schizophrenia have regarded the syndro me as a disorder of the left hemisphere. However, discrepant experimental f indings have been reported. It has been proposed that the different psychop athological dimensions of the syndrome are associated with distinct pattern s of hemispheric imbalance. The present study was aimed at exploring relati onships of psychopathological dimensions of schizophrenia with fronto-and t emporo-hippocampal functioning of either hemisphere in 42 drug-free patient s with a DSM-III-R diagnosis of schizophrenia. For the negative dimension, an inverse correlation with the performance on a verbal conditional associa tive task was found, consistent with the presence of a left fronto-hippocam pal impairment in this dimension. As to the positive dimension, our results showed a direct correlation with perseveration on a verbal self-ordered po inting task, suggesting a hyperactivation of the left-hemisphere in this di mension. The disorganisation was found to be associated with a faster execu tion of a spatial memory task, probably reflecting increased perceptual pri ming and a right temporo-hippocampal disinhibition. (C) 1999 Elsevier Scien ce B.V. All rights reserved.