Psychiatry Research
Volume 153, Issue 2 , Pages 189-193, 31 October 2007

Spatial attention and neural asymmetry in obsessive-compulsive disorder

  • Sari Maril

      Affiliations

    • Department of Psychology and Brain and Behavior Center, Haifa University, Israel
    • ,
  • Haggai Hermesh

      Affiliations

    • Anxiety Disorders Unit, Geha Mental Health Center, Petach Tikva, Israel
    • Department of Psychiatry, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel
    • ,
  • Ruth Gross-Isseroff

      Affiliations

    • Anxiety Disorders Unit, Geha Mental Health Center, Petach Tikva, Israel
    • ,
  • Rachel Tomer

      Affiliations

    • Department of Psychology and Brain and Behavior Center, Haifa University, Israel
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Department of Psychology, University of Haifa, Mount Carmel 31905, Haifa, Israel. Tel.: +972 48240939; fax: +972 48240966.

Received 5 January 2007; received in revised form 6 April 2007; accepted 16 April 2007.

Abstract 

Patterns of lateralized dysfunction in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) were examined using the Posner spatial attention paradigm. While controls responded faster to left visual field targets than to right, patients lacked this asymmetry. The difference in asymmetry patterns was significant for the invalid cue condition, but not for the valid cue condition. Reversal of normal asymmetry was correlated with obsession severity. Findings support aberrant hemispheric balance in OCD.

Keywords: OCD, Asymmetry, Spatial attention

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PII: S0165-1781(07)00127-8

doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2007.04.015

Psychiatry Research
Volume 153, Issue 2 , Pages 189-193, 31 October 2007

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