The etiology of schizophrenia and the origin of language: overview of a theory.
Schizophrenia is present in all human populations with approximately the same incidence. Why does such illness persist given that it is associated with a reproductive disadvantage? What is the balancing advantage? A possible explanation is linked to human language. According to this hypothesis schiz...
Main Authors: | , , , |
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Format: | Journal article |
Language: | English |
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2003
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author | Berlim, M Mattevi, B Belmonte-de-Abreu, P Crow, T |
author_facet | Berlim, M Mattevi, B Belmonte-de-Abreu, P Crow, T |
author_sort | Berlim, M |
collection | OXFORD |
description | Schizophrenia is present in all human populations with approximately the same incidence. Why does such illness persist given that it is associated with a reproductive disadvantage? What is the balancing advantage? A possible explanation is linked to human language. According to this hypothesis schizophrenia occurs as a manifestation of genetic diversity associated with language--the function by which Homo sapiens has separated from other primate species. Language originated by a genetic mutation that allowed the cerebral hemispheres to develop with a degree of specialization (or lateralization) reflected in cerebral asymmetries. Individuals with schizophrenia show lesser structural and functional brain asymmetries than the population as a whole, and this finding can be interpreted as a delay, or failure in, establishing hemispheric dominance for language. We review recent evidence supporting this theory. |
first_indexed | 2024-03-06T22:50:29Z |
format | Journal article |
id | oxford-uuid:5e9d85ad-2d93-4674-b5d5-f1836e5f099e |
institution | University of Oxford |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-06T22:50:29Z |
publishDate | 2003 |
record_format | dspace |
spelling | oxford-uuid:5e9d85ad-2d93-4674-b5d5-f1836e5f099e2022-03-26T17:41:45ZThe etiology of schizophrenia and the origin of language: overview of a theory.Journal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:5e9d85ad-2d93-4674-b5d5-f1836e5f099eEnglishSymplectic Elements at Oxford2003Berlim, MMattevi, BBelmonte-de-Abreu, PCrow, TSchizophrenia is present in all human populations with approximately the same incidence. Why does such illness persist given that it is associated with a reproductive disadvantage? What is the balancing advantage? A possible explanation is linked to human language. According to this hypothesis schizophrenia occurs as a manifestation of genetic diversity associated with language--the function by which Homo sapiens has separated from other primate species. Language originated by a genetic mutation that allowed the cerebral hemispheres to develop with a degree of specialization (or lateralization) reflected in cerebral asymmetries. Individuals with schizophrenia show lesser structural and functional brain asymmetries than the population as a whole, and this finding can be interpreted as a delay, or failure in, establishing hemispheric dominance for language. We review recent evidence supporting this theory. |
spellingShingle | Berlim, M Mattevi, B Belmonte-de-Abreu, P Crow, T The etiology of schizophrenia and the origin of language: overview of a theory. |
title | The etiology of schizophrenia and the origin of language: overview of a theory. |
title_full | The etiology of schizophrenia and the origin of language: overview of a theory. |
title_fullStr | The etiology of schizophrenia and the origin of language: overview of a theory. |
title_full_unstemmed | The etiology of schizophrenia and the origin of language: overview of a theory. |
title_short | The etiology of schizophrenia and the origin of language: overview of a theory. |
title_sort | etiology of schizophrenia and the origin of language overview of a theory |
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