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Laterality in monozygotic schizophrenic twins: an alternative hypothesis

D Luchins, W Pollin, R J Wyatt

    Biological Psychiatry
    |February 1, 1980
    PubMed

    Insights

    Schizophrenia may involve abnormal brain lateralization in a subgroup of patients, not limited to identical twins. This finding suggests a milder form of schizophrenia associated with atypical handedness.

    Area of Science:

    • Neuroscience
    • Psychiatry
    • Genetics

    Background:

    • Handedness and its relationship to brain lateralization are crucial in understanding neurological and psychiatric conditions.
    • Previous research, including Boklage's work, suggested a link between schizophrenia, abnormal lateralization, and monozygotic (MZ) twins.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To examine handedness in monozygotic (MZ) schizophrenic twins.
    • To compare these findings with existing reports, specifically Boklage's.
    • To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of abnormal lateralization in schizophrenia beyond MZ twins.

    Main Methods:

    • Analysis of handedness data in a cohort of NIMH monozygotic (MZ) schizophrenic twins.
    • Comparative analysis with historical data on handedness and schizophrenia.

    Main Results:

    • Findings support the existence of a schizophrenic subgroup with abnormal lateralization.
    • This subgroup appears to exhibit a milder form of schizophrenia.
    • Abnormal lateralization in schizophrenia is hypothesized to extend beyond monozygotic (MZ) twins.

    Conclusions:

    • A subgroup of individuals with schizophrenia demonstrates abnormal brain lateralization and potentially milder symptom presentation.
    • The observed abnormal lateralization is not exclusive to monozygotic (MZ) twins, suggesting broader etiological factors.
    • Further research is warranted to explore the neurodevelopmental and genetic underpinnings of this subgroup.

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