Modal attention asymmetry in patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder

This cross-sectional study examined modal attention asymmetries in patients with schizophrenia (n = 47) and bipolar disorder (n = 42), as contrasted t o a matched-sample comparison group of normal participants (n = 89). A test of continuous auditory and visual attention was the primary measure. The d ata were analyzed from 2 experimental conditions: simple modal responses (a uditory and visual) and modal switching responses (ipsimodal and cross-moda l switching). In the simple modal condition, patients with schizophrenia de monstrated a visual over auditory asymmetry; patients with bipolar disorder showed no differences. In modal switching conditions, however, patients wi th bipolar disorder displayed a significant auditory over visual asymmetry. No main effect was detected between medications and attention functioning. Results are discussed in light of differentiating these 2 populations on t he basis of modal specificity of attention functioning.