NEUROLEPTIC-INDUCED LATERAL ASYMMETRY OF VISUAL EVOKED-POTENTIALS IN SCHIZOPHRENIA
- 1 January 1982
- journal article
- research article
- Vol. 17 (7) , 815-828
Abstract
Electrophysiological studies have shown asymmetric brain reactivity in schizophrenia, supporting the hypothesis of left hemisphere hyperarousal in this disease. Neuroleptic treatment may restore hemispheric balance in schizophrenic patients by selectively suppressing the hyperactive left hemisphere. This hypothesis was tested in the present study which compared bilaterally recorded visual evoked potentials (VEP) in 9 non-medicated patients, 29 schizophrenics treated with various neuroleptic drugs and in 34 normal controls. In medicated patients later VEP components showed enhancement over the right hemisphere as a function of the overall dose (chlorpromazine equivalent) of neuroleptics. Reversed asymmetry was seen in drug-free patients. Some amendments of the concept of left hemisphere hyperactivity in schizophrenia are proposed.This publication has 7 references indexed in Scilit:
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