Learned control of slow potential interhemispheric asymmetry in schizophrenia

We report on the feasibility of teaching 16 (DSM-IV) schizophrenic patients , subdivided by syndrome, self-regulation of interhemispheric asymmetry hav ing demonstrated efficient learning of interhemispheric control in normal s ubjects. Reversal of asymmetry may be important to treatment and recovery i n schizophrenia for following improvement on neuroleptic drugs functional h emispheric asymmetries have reversed, with directions of reversal and pre-e xisting asymmetry dependent on syndrome. Asymmetry reversal in animals, man ifested by spatial turning tendencies, has been used as a marker of neurole ptic action and involves striatal dopamine under reciprocal hemispheric con trol. We gave as feedback the left-right asymmetry in slow potential negati vity recorded from the sensory motor strip (C3,4). Feedback took the form o f a rocket on a screen which rose or fell with leftward or rightward shifts in negativity. Patients were able to learn control(P < 0.01). In those pat ients with lesser ability this was due to inability to sustain concentratio n throughout the session rather than slow initial learning. Active syndrome patients were better able to shift negativity rightward and withdrawn pati ents leftward, directions associated with drug reversal of functional asymm etry and symptom recovery for each syndrome. Accordingly our demonstration that many symptomatic schizophrenic patients are capable of learning contro l opens the door to electrocortical operant conditioning training in schizo phrenia with therapeutic regimens. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All right s reserved.