Schizophrenia Daily News Blog

Schizophrenia Due to Language?

A new theory about one of the possible causes of Schizophrenia suggests that it may be due to the fact that human brains can "process thought and speech." The psychologist holding this controversial new theory is Professor Tim Crow who works for the mental health charity Sane, established in Oxford. The human brain has developed into something that has a "strong regional bias", in other words, certain areas and sides of the brain control certain commands and body parts. This is referred to as brain asymmetry, and is the norm in most people.

Professor Crow states that brain asymmetry is "less pronounced in people with psychoses." He also "suggests the division boundaries between certain areas of the brain, particularly those which are concerned with language and thought, are "blurred" in people with psychoses. People with these conditions may hear their inner thoughts as external voices, or believe thoughts have been inserted in their head, suggesting the normal divisions do not exist" (Ryan, 2005).

Crow also believes that this asymmetry is due to a certain gene, and that finding this gene could have an immense affect on schizophrenia treatment.

This argument gives an interesting explanation to the reason why ambidextrous people are more likely to develop schizophrenia. Ambidextrous means that one has the ability to write with both their right and left hands. Maybe the fact that their brains do not specialize in one area makes them more at risk for developing schizophrenia.

Original Source: Schizophrenia 'price for speech?'. BBC News. August 27, 2005. By Caroline Ryan.