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Schizoid personality, inter-hemispheric transfer, and left hemisphere over-activation
1Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles 90089-1061.
The British Journal of Clinical Psychology
|November 1, 1988
Summary
This study found that individuals with schizoid personality traits exhibit left hemisphere (LH) over-activation, indicated by specific patterns in verbal dichotic listening and strategy use. Understanding schizoid personality is crucial for interpreting brain laterality findings in schizophrenia research.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Schizotypy is often linked to cerebral laterality, with theories suggesting left hemisphere (LH) over-activation, LH damage, or inter-hemisphere transfer deficits.
- Previous research has yielded mixed results, potentially due to not accounting for schizoid personality traits in control groups.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the external validity of schizoid personality by examining its relationship with various measures of cerebral laterality.
- To differentiate between LH over-activation, LH damage, and inter-hemisphere transfer deficit interpretations of schizotypy.
Main Methods:
- Assessed schizoid personality using questionnaire measures in an undergraduate population.
- Related schizoid personality scores to laterality measures including dichotic listening (verbal/nonverbal), haptic matching, hemisphere strategy use, lateral eye-movements, and auditory thresholds.
Main Results:
- High schizoid personality scores correlated significantly with increased asymmetry (right ear advantage) in verbal dichotic listening.
- Individuals with higher schizoid personality scores demonstrated greater use of LH strategies during a haptic task.
- Lower right ear auditory thresholds were also associated with higher schizoid personality scores, suggesting LH over-activation.
Conclusions:
- The findings indicate a pattern of LH over-activation in individuals with schizoid personality traits.
- It is recommended that future studies on schizophrenia and control groups consider schizoid personality to avoid potential confounding effects and obtain clearer group differences.