Magical Ideation Modulates Spatial Behavior

• Published in: The journal of neuropsychiatry and clinical neurosciences Vol. 15; no. 2; pp. 168 - 174
• Main Authors: Mohr, Christine, Bracha, H. Stefan, Brugger, Peter
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Psychiatric Publishing 01.05.2003; American Psychiatric Press; American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc
• Subjects: Adult; Anatomical correlates of behavior; Attention; Behavioral psychophysiology; Biological and medical sciences; Female; Functional Laterality; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Magic - psychology; Male; Neuropsychological Tests; Orientation - physiology; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Psychometrics; Psychomotor Performance - physiology; Psychotic Disorders - diagnosis; Psychotic Disorders - psychology; Schizotypal Personality Disorder - diagnosis; Schizotypal Personality Disorder - psychology; Spatial Behavior - physiology; Surveys and Questionnaires; Human; Psychosis; Schizotypal personality; Healthy subject; Cerebral hemisphere; Magical thought; Right; Spatial orientation; Behavior; Dopaminergic pathway
• ISSN: 0895-0172; 1545-7222
• DOI: 10.1176/jnp.15.2.168

Previous research has found that animals as well as persons with psychotic disorders preferentially orient away from the cerebral hemisphere with the more active dopamine system. This study investigated the modulation of spatial behavior by a mode of thinking reminiscent of the positive symptoms of psychosis. In a non-treatment-seeking sample of healthy volunteers (20 women and 16 men), the authors assessed the lateral biases in turning and veering behavior and in line bisection as a function of their magical ideation, that is, a mild form of schizotypy. Across tasks, pronounced magical ideation was associated with reduced right-sided orientation preferences. This finding suggests a relative hyperdopaminergia of the right hemisphere as the biological basis of magical ideation.