Eye movement density in positive and negative schizophrenia

Polysomnograpby of 3 consecutive nights was performed in 20 drug treated chronic schizophrenic patients in parallel with scoring of positive and negative symptoms (PANSS). Eye movement density - estimated separately for each cycle - was lower in patients with a relative prevalence of positive symptoms in comparison with patients with predominantly negative symptoms. Eye movement density correlated negatively with the score of positive symptoms. The results are discussed in the context of the Search Activity concept, and takes into consideration the regulation of the saccadic eye movements in sleep and wakefulness by the right hemisphere, which is sensitive to neuroleptic treatment.