Paranoid males have reduced lateralisation for processing of negative emotions: An investigation using the chimeric faces test

Abstract

Reduced strength of lateralisation in patients with schizophrenia has been reported in a number of studies. However the exact nature of this relationship remains unclear. In this study, lateralisation for processing emotional faces was measured using the chimeric faces test and examined in relation to paranoia in a non-clinical sample. For males only, those with higher scores on a paranoia questionnaire had reduced lateralisation for processing negative facial emotion. For females there were no significant relationships. These findings suggest that atypical patterns of lateralisation for processing emotional stimuli may be implicated in, or associated with, increased levels of paranoia.

Keywords:

• Emotion lateralisation
• Paranoia
• Self-esteem
• Sex differences
• Chimeric faces test