The Factorial Structure of Schizotypy: Part II. Cognitive Asymmetry, Arousal, Handedness, and Sex

We replicate relations between factors of schizotypy and cognitive asymmetry patterns assessed with recognition memory for words versus faces, and with arousal levels assessed with self-report scales. The withdrawn factor or subscales of loneliness and constricted affect were associated as before with a right hemisphere, face advantage asymmetry, as was physical anhedonia in males. Subjects with the opposite asymmetry and those high on the active factor--eccentricity and odd speech--had high self-report activation scores. These relations better characterized males who also had higher scores on the asymmetry-related factors. Females had higher scores on the third unreality factor--unusual perceptions and odd beliefs--which showed inconsistent relations with cognitive asymmetry. Non-right-handedness was associated with both hemisphere asymmetry patterns suggesting that the structural mechanism responsible for non-right-handedness is associated with bidirectional hemispheric functional imbalance. The results support the importance of patterns of functional asymmetry in underpinning different aspects of schizotypy.