Impaired interhemispheric integration in brain oxygenation and hemodynamics in schizophrenia

We examined 38 patients with chronic schizophrenia to find and qualify disturbances in interhemispheric integration in brain oxygen metabolism and hemodynamics during a psychological task. A group of thirty-eight age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers were monitored as controls. Multi channel near-infrared (NIR) spectrophotometry was used to observed real-time alterations in cerebral oxygenation in areas of both hemispheres of the forebrain adjacent to the forehead during the mirror drawing task (MDT). In response to MDT normal volunteers showed distinct and well-integrated patterns of changes in oxygenated hemoglobin Hb, deoxygenated Hb, and blood volume total Hb. On the other hand, half the schizophrenics showed dysregulated patterns between hemispheres which never appeared in normal volunteers. Certain schizophrenic symptoms may be related to defective interhemispheric integration.