Fluctuating dermatoglyphic asymmetry and its association with positive and negative symptoms in schizophrenia

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Jeffry P. ticker, Ralph H. Boring, Ann E. Harris, ThereseA.Markc%'* Arimna StateUniversity, Departmentof Zoology, Tempe, AZ 85287

Bilaterallysynmtribl oqanisms (sud~ashumans) havediffering abifitiestodevelop inpreciselydeterminedpat&ays inthepresenceof mommtal dresses-abilities that are reflected by nomally ~ikutedasymdries betxmmthetwosidesofthebcdy. Fluctuating asyrmnetry(FA) is associatedwithpolygenictraits: Individuals haprrozygmsatmanylocishmnwxeFAthanhighlyhetemzygous individuals. Markrrw&Wandler(1986)f~~~FAin~oglyphic traits forschizo@renicsubjectsthanfornomal &psychiatric controls,thismsultindi~~tingthatatleastscxnesubtypesof schiz~a are polygmic. We have replicatedthis result for schiz~candno~subjects,andshowthatdiffesent~ categories are differentiallyassociatedwith FA: Subjectswithhigher ratings on positive qmptans show less FAthanthosewithlowerratings; andsubjedswithkirplerratingsonnegativesyrrqtanrSshawnvnvnvnvnvnvnvnvnvnvnvnvnrEath thosewithlowerratiqs. Theseok6ervationsareaaqmtiblewithan etiology in which variability at a small rxmber of loci is associated with the oaumexe of positive syq+mk~ whereas variability in additive genetic factorsatalaqemmbzroflociis associatedwith negative syqtms. ~~~donatprecludetheinferpretationthatthesame locimayunderliediffemntsubQpesofthed.uease . Note: This researchwas sqqortedbyagrant of Mental Health (MH 42266-02).

fromtheNational Institute