Sound Hallucinations Unmasked...

(August 21, 2007) -- Could French national hero Joan of Arc have been schizophrenic? For the first time, a team of Spanish researchers has identified cerebral dysfunctions that could be the origin of the sound hallucinations experienced by some individuals suffering from schizophrenia – a condition that in many countries, affects around 1 in every 100 people.

The researchers compared images obtained using magnetic image resonancing (MRI) from 21 patients suffering from schizophrenia with those of 10 healthy individuals. “After analysis, we found a number of anomalies regarding loss of grey matter among the schizophrenic patients. This was in different areas of the brain associated with the regulation of emotions and sound reception”, points out Dr Marti-Bonmati. “We hope in future to find the biomarkers responsible for these dysfunctions which could help us to develop new treatments”.

Source: Destination Sante Radiology

Last updated: 08/07

top ~ next ~ news table of contents ~ send page to a friend

We subscribe to the HONcode principles. Verify here.