1. Neuroanatomical asymmetries are known to be present in the human brain,
and loss of reversal of these asymmetries, particularly through changes in
the left temporal lobe, have been found in the brains of patients with schi
zophrenia.
2. In addition to disturbed neuroanatomical asymmetries, disturbed neuroche
mical asymmetries have also been reported in the brains of patients with sc
hizophrenia. However, in the temporal lobe, the laterality of most of these
neurochemical changes has not been specifically evaluated. Few neurochemic
al studies have addressed left-right differences in the superior temporal g
yrus (STG).
3. A deteriorated serotonin2A receptor-G protein q alpha (Gq alpha)-phospho
inositide-specific phospholipase C beta1(PLC beta1) cascade has been found
in the left, but not right, STG of patients with schizophrenia.
4. Not only neuroanatomical but also neurochemical evidence supports the lo
ss or reversal of normal asymmetry of the temporal lobe in schizophrenia, w
hich might be due to a disruption of the neurodevelopmental processes invol
ved in hemispheric lateralization.