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The Asymmetric Lateralization of Tactile Extinction in Schizophrenia: the Possible Role of Limbic and Frontal Regions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

Silvio Scarone
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Milan Medical School, Via GF Besta 1, 20161 Milano, Italy
Elisabetta Pieri
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Milan Medical School, Via GF Besta 1, 20161 Milano, Italy
Orsola Gambini
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Milan Medical School, Via GF Besta 1, 20161 Milano, Italy
Roberto Massironi
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Milan Medical School, Via GF Besta 1, 20161 Milano, Italy
Carlo L. Cazzullo
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Milan Medical School, Via GF Besta 1, 20161 Milano, Italy

Summary

This study evaluates the tactile extinction rate in acute and chronic schizophrenics by means of the Quality Extinction Test (QET) proposed by Schwartz in 1977. This procedure is successful in detecting ipsilateral abnormal extinction rates in neurological patients with dominant frontal lesions. Sixty schizophrenics and sixty controls were tested. The results suggest adominant temporo-parietal dysfunction in acute patients and a dominant frontal dysfunction in chronic patients.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1982 

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