Language asymmetry in brains linked to mental illness
Andrew Wright, British Science Association media fellow at THE
Scientists have found wide variations in the symmetry of communication pathways between left and right brain hemispheres. The differences could relate to mental illness and gender differences.
Dr Marco Catani (pictured) from the Institute of Psychiatry reported on investigations into the development of the communication pathway between two areas of the brain linked to language and speech. In 60 per cent of the normal population, this communication pathway only develops in the left side. In the remainder it develops on both sides, with a mild left side bias or symmetric pathways. But 85 per cent of men have the pathway only on the left side, and Dr Catani believes this may explain why autism is more prevalent in males.
Dr Catani has found that while all schizophrenia patients have damage to the left pathway, auditory hallucinations – voices in the head - are only experienced by patients with damage to the right side as well. The amounts by which stroke victims recover language is also linked to symmetry of these pathways. Left-only patients recover the least and those with symmetric pathways the most.
Scientists have found wide variations in the symmetry of communication pathways between left and right brain hemispheres. The differences could relate to mental illness and gender differences.
Dr Marco Catani (pictured) from the Institute of Psychiatry reported on investigations into the development of the communication pathway between two areas of the brain linked to language and speech. In 60 per cent of the normal population, this communication pathway only develops in the left side. In the remainder it develops on both sides, with a mild left side bias or symmetric pathways. But 85 per cent of men have the pathway only on the left side, and Dr Catani believes this may explain why autism is more prevalent in males.
Dr Catani has found that while all schizophrenia patients have damage to the left pathway, auditory hallucinations – voices in the head - are only experienced by patients with damage to the right side as well. The amounts by which stroke victims recover language is also linked to symmetry of these pathways. Left-only patients recover the least and those with symmetric pathways the most.
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