[Alpha-rhythm asymmetry of schizophrenic patients before and after tryptophan administration]

Before and one hour after tryptophan loading laterality differences in the alpha-waves were evaluated from the EEG data obtained from 16 right-handed patients with paranoid hallucinatory schizophrenia and 16 right-handed controls. The alpha wave asymmetry of the patients which was increased and shifted to the right before tryptophan loading may be due to a disturbed relationship between both hemispheres. Particularly in the patients, the pronounced changes in the laterality of alpha-waves after tryptophan loading demonstrate that like psychotic substances tryptophan and its metabolites may bring about changes in subcortical and cortical asymmetries.