Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 11, 2026
13:08
Measurement of Fronto-limbic Activity Using an Emotional Oddball Task in Children with Familial High Risk for Schizophrenia
Published on: December 2, 2015
Left cerebral hemisphere hypodensity in discordant schizophrenic twins. A controlled study
Archives of General Psychiatry
|July 1, 1987
Summary
Schizophrenia patients show reduced left hemisphere brain density compared to controls. This suggests environmental factors, not genetics, may cause this brain asymmetry in schizophrenia.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Schizophrenia is a complex mental disorder with debated genetic and environmental influences.
- Previous research suggests potential brain structural differences in individuals with schizophrenia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate brain absorption density differences in monozygotic twins discordant for schizophrenia.
- To explore the role of genetic versus environmental factors in observed brain asymmetries.
Main Methods:
- Computed tomographic (CT) scans were performed on 11 discordant monozygotic twin pairs and 18 control monozygotic twin pairs.
- Brain absorption density was automatically analyzed across five slice levels, excluding cerebrospinal fluid.
- Right vs. left hemisphere density asymmetry was compared across diagnostic groups.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in overall brain density were found between schizophrenic patients, their co-twins, and controls.
- A significant difference in right vs. left hemisphere density asymmetry was observed across diagnostic groups.
- Schizophrenic individuals exhibited lower left hemisphere density compared to the right, unlike controls and co-twins.
Conclusions:
- The findings support a hypothesis of left hemisphere dysfunction in schizophrenia.
- The results suggest that brain asymmetry in schizophrenia may be an environmentally acquired trait rather than a purely genetic one.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:22Case Studies
There are many research methods available to psychologists in their efforts to understand, describe, and explain behavior and the cognitive and biological processes that underlie it.
01:27Psychosis: Pathophysiology of Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders
Schizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental disorder whose origins are rooted in complex genetic components. Despite our burgeoning understanding, the pathophysiology of this disorder remains incompletely deciphered.
Researchers have identified genetic factors that increase susceptibility to schizophrenia, underscoring the intricate interplay between genetics and environment in disease development. At the core of schizophrenia's pathophysiology is excessive dopaminergic neurotransmission within the...
Researchers have identified genetic factors that increase susceptibility to schizophrenia, underscoring the intricate interplay between genetics and environment in disease development. At the core of schizophrenia's pathophysiology is excessive dopaminergic neurotransmission within the...
01:05Cerebral Hemispheres
The human brain, a complex organ, is functionally divided into two cerebral hemispheres—left and right. These hemispheres are interconnected by a structure of paramount importance, the corpus callosum. This substantial bundle of neural fibers is not just a bridge between the hemispheres but a crucial element for the brain's comprehensive functioning. It enables efficient communication between the two hemispheres, allowing each side of the brain to control and receive sensory and motor...
01:28Lateralization
Brain lateralization refers to the division of mental processes and functions between the two hemispheres of the brain, a phenomenon that optimizes neural efficiency and underpins complex abilities in humans. This specialization allows each hemisphere to perform tasks where it has a comparative advantage, facilitating more refined cognitive capabilities across different domains.
01:29Biological Causes of Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia, a severe psychiatric disorder, arises from a complex interplay of biological factors, including genetic predisposition, structural brain abnormalities, neurotransmitter dysregulation, and developmental irregularities. These factors collectively contribute to the onset and progression of the disorder, which typically manifests in late adolescence or early adulthood.
Genetic Factors in Schizophrenia
The genetic basis of schizophrenia is strongly supported by family and twin studies.
Genetic Factors in Schizophrenia
The genetic basis of schizophrenia is strongly supported by family and twin studies.
01:29Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia, a complex psychiatric disorder, has been historically misunderstood. Early psychological theories attributed its origins to childhood trauma and unresponsive parenting. However, contemporary research largely rejects these notions, favoring the vulnerability-stress hypothesis. This model proposes that individuals with a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia may develop the disorder following exposure to significant environmental stressors. Notably, studies on high-risk...