POSTURAL REACTIONS TO VESTIBULAR STIMULATION IN SCHIZOPHRENIC AND NORMAL SUBJECTS

ANDRAS ANGYAL and MAX A. SHERMANAuthors Info & Affiliations

Publication: American Journal of Psychiatry

Volume 98, Number 6

https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.98.6.857

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Abstract

1. Postural reactions to caloric stimulation of the vestibular organ were measured in a group of 20 chronic schizophrenic patients and in a group of 20 normal persons. The blind-folded subjects were instructed to mark time in place, and the reaction was measured by the degree of rotation about the vertical axis of the body.

2. The test was first administered without vestibular stimulation in order to determine the amount and direction of the rotation, which is an expression of the dominance of one side of the body. Such "basal trends," which were present in all subjects, were taken into account when calculating the amount of vestibular reaction.

3. The mean total vestibular reaction measured in degrees of rotation was, in the patients, less than one-half that of the normal subjects. In spite of the great variability of the phenomenon studied, this difference is statistically highly significant.

4. The total duration of the reaction, as well as the degree of rotation per time unit was found to be significantly less in the patients than in the normal controls. That is, the reaction of the patients was more fleeting and less intense than that of the normal controls.

5. It is suggested that the difference found may be due either to the depressed activity of the nervous mechanisms involved or to a diminished muscle tonus of the schizophrenic patients.

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Information & Authors

Information

Published In

American Journal of Psychiatry

Volume 98 • Number 6 • May 1942

Pages: 857 - 862

History

Published in print: May 1942

Published online: 1 April 2006

Authors

Details

ANDRAS ANGYAL

The Research Service of the Worcester State Hospital, Worcester, Massachusetts.

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MAX A. SHERMAN

The Research Service of the Worcester State Hospital, Worcester, Massachusetts.

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POSTURAL REACTIONS TO VESTIBULAR STIMULATION IN SCHIZOPHRENIC AND NORMAL SUBJECTS

Abstract

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