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Early cortical tactile-evoked potentials, laterality and schizophrenia
J E Allen1, A Jenner, J C Stevens
1University of Sheffield, Department of Psychiatry, Royal Hallamshire Hospital.
Summary
Researchers found no significant differences in tactile-evoked potentials lateralisation between schizophrenic patients and controls. This study on tactile processing in schizophrenia differs from prior findings.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Schizophrenia is a complex psychiatric disorder.
- Altered sensory processing, including tactile perception, is a potential endophenotype in schizophrenia.
- Lateralisation of brain responses to sensory stimuli is a key area of investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the lateralisation of early tactile-evoked potentials in individuals with schizophrenia.
- To compare tactile processing between schizophrenic patients and healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Tactile stimuli were applied to the index finger.
- Early tactile responses were recorded using contralateral and ipsilateral parietal scalp electrodes.
- 14 patients with schizophrenia and 14 age- and sex-matched controls participated.
Main Results:
- No significant differences were observed in the lateralisation of tactile-evoked potentials between the schizophrenic group and the control group.
- Early tactile responses showed similar patterns of lateralisation in both groups.
Conclusions:
- The findings suggest that tactile-evoked potential lateralisation may not be significantly altered in schizophrenia, contrary to some previous research.
- Further research is needed to fully understand tactile processing abnormalities in schizophrenia.