Right hemispheric dysfunction in schizophrenia

Abstract

This study uses the Poffenberger (1912) paradigm, which compares the difference between “crossed” (stimuli and motor response areas are contralateral) and “uncrossed” (stimuli and motor response areas are ipsilateral) conditions to estimate interhemispheric transfer time. Simple reaction time (RT) was recorded to stimuli presented to the left visual field (LVF), right visual field (RVF), or bilaterally (BVF) in individuals with schizophrenia (n = 10) and controls (n = 14), who responded using either the left or right hand. While the results provide no evidence for differences between the groups in information transfer between the hemispheres, the schizophrenia group were significantly slower to respond to LVF stimuli, suggesting right hemisphere dysfunction.