Handedness, language lateralisation and anatomical asymmetry in schizophrenia - Meta-analysis

Background Cerebral lateralisation appears to be decreased in schizophrenia . Results of studies investigating this. however, are equivocal. Aims To review quantitatively the literature on decreased lateralisation in schizophrenia. Method Meta-analyses were conducted on 19 studies on handedness. 10 dichoti c listening studies and 39 studies investigating anatomical asymmetry in sc hizophrenia. Results The prevalence of mixed- and left-handedness( 'non-right-handedness ') was significantly higher in patients with schizophrenia as compared to h ealthy controls. and also as compared to psychiatric controls. The analysis of dichotic listening studies revealed no significant difference in latera lisation in schizophrenia. However, when analysis was restricted to studies using consonant vowel or fused word tasks. significantly decreased lateral isation in schizophrenia emerged. Asymmetry of the planum temporale and the Sylvian fissure was significantly decreased in schizophrenia, while asymme try of the temporal horn of the lateral ventricle was not. Conclusion Strong evidence is provided for decreased cerebral lateralisatio n in schizophrenia.