Cohen Alex S, Iglesias Bianca, Minor Kyle S
Department of Psychology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70808, United States.
Schizophr Res. 2009 Apr;109(1-3):38-45. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2009.01.010. Epub 2009 Feb 18.
Diminished expressivity is a characteristic feature of schizophrenia-spectrum pathology. However, attempts to elucidate the neurobiological underpinnings of diminished expressivity have yielded limited information. The present study posited that diminished expressivity was associated with a right, but not left-hemispheric dysfunction. Diminished expressivity was measured in separate groups of controls and psychometrically-identified individuals with schizotypic traits using 1) acoustic analysis of natural speech during a controlled laboratory procedure, and 2) self-report of expressivity. A state measure of emotional experience was also employed. For the most part, the schizotypy and control groups performed similarly on the neurocognitive measures. Within the schizotypy group diminished expressivity, measured using acoustic analysis, was significantly correlated with right hemispheric but not left hemispheric deficits. Conversely, the self-report measures of emotional expressivity and experience were relatively unrelated to the neurocognitive measures. These results highlight the role of the right hemisphere in diminished expressivity and support the use of acoustic analysis of speech as a sensitive means for researching diminished expressivity. The discussion focuses on placing the present findings in the larger context of understanding the neuropathology of schizophrenia-spectrum disorders.
表情减少是精神分裂症谱系病理学的一个特征。然而，试图阐明表情减少的神经生物学基础所获得的信息有限。本研究假设表情减少与右半球功能障碍有关，而与左半球功能障碍无关。通过以下方式对对照组和经心理测量确定的具有分裂型特质的个体进行表情减少的测量：1）在受控实验室程序中对自然言语进行声学分析，以及2）表情的自我报告。还采用了情绪体验的状态测量方法。在大多数情况下，分裂型特质组和对照组在神经认知测量中的表现相似。在分裂型特质组中，使用声学分析测量的表情减少与右半球而非左半球的缺陷显著相关。相反，情绪表达和体验的自我报告测量与神经认知测量相对无关。这些结果突出了右半球在表情减少中的作用，并支持将言语声学分析作为研究表情减少的一种敏感方法。讨论的重点是将目前的研究结果置于理解精神分裂症谱系障碍神经病理学这一更大的背景中。
