Related Experiment Videos
Cerebral lateralization is delayed in children who later develop schizophrenia
1Prince of Wales Centre, University Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Headington, Oxford, UK.
Schizophrenia Research
|December 15, 1996
Summary
Children who later developed schizophrenia showed delayed cerebral hemisphere dominance. This suggests that establishing clear handedness early may be crucial for preventing schizophrenia development.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Human Genetics
Background:
- The origins of schizophrenia remain largely unknown.
- A proposed theory links schizophrenia to genetic variations influencing cerebral hemisphere dominance, vital for language evolution.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between cerebral hemispheric dominance in childhood and the later development of schizophrenia.
- To explore if delayed dominance is a risk factor for schizophrenia.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the UK National Child Development Study cohort (16,980 children).
- Assessed indices of cerebral hemispheric dominance (hand, foot, eye preference, square checking speed) at ages 7 and 11.
- Examined psychiatric admissions by age 28 using Present State Examination criteria.
Main Results:
- Children later diagnosed with schizophrenia were more likely to be rated as ambidextrous at age 7 (p < 0.0003).
- At age 11, these children exhibited less strong right-handedness compared to peers (p < 0.01).
- No significant differences were found for children who developed affective psychosis or neurosis.
Conclusions:
- Delayed establishment of cerebral hemisphere dominance in childhood may be a predisposing factor for schizophrenia.
- Cerebral lateralization and its potential disruption are implicated in schizophrenia etiology.