Can other animals suffer from schizophrenia?

Dub · 6th February 2003, 04:51 PM

Just a thought I had. Schizophrenia has a physical effect on the brain. Therefore, can other aniamls, especially animals genetically close to humans, suffer from it? If so, what would the implications be for the 'consciousness' debate with the 'voices-in-the-head' effects of Schizophrenia? (I know this is not the only symptom and doesnt HAVE to be a symptom) For example, how would voices-in-the-head manifest themselves in say, a chimp? Would they be 'chimp voices'?

6th February 2003, 07:20 PM

LOL. Cool question. Well, if an animal with the disorder were to have auditory hallucinations, I'd imagine it would be sounds the chimp would normally hear, or perhaps the chimp equivalent of self-talk.

I read an interesting study where people who had auditory hallucinations were compared to those who did not, while in an MRI or similar device. No one had these hallucinations during the study. They read to themselves, and the scientists monitored brain activity.

It seemed an area of the brain was less active in those with hallucinations - forget the area. It was suggested that the reduced activity might have something to do with people not knowing that a thought is their own.

I've not followed up on the research so I don't know if it has been replicated, nor do I know the criticisms. I'm sure someone else here should have better information.

xouper · 11th February 2004, 10:54 AM

bump

6th February 2003, 04:51 PM	#1
Dub Thinker Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 247	Can other animals suffer from schizophrenia? Just a thought I had. Schizophrenia has a physical effect on the brain. Therefore, can other aniamls, especially animals genetically close to humans, suffer from it? If so, what would the implications be for the 'consciousness' debate with the 'voices-in-the-head' effects of Schizophrenia? (I know this is not the only symptom and doesnt HAVE to be a symptom) For example, how would voices-in-the-head manifest themselves in say, a chimp? Would they be 'chimp voices'?
Dub Thinker Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 247	__________________ "Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing ever happened." Sir Winston Churchill "Faith is the great cop-out, the great excuse to evade the need to think and evaluate evidence. Faith is belief in spite of, even perhaps because of, the lack of evidence." Richard Dawkins "Our ignorance is God; what we know is science." Robert Ingersoll "The meme for blind faith secures its own perpetuation by the simple unconscious expedient of discouraging rational inquiry." Richard Dawkins "Paranormal phenomena have a habit of going away whenever they are tested under rigorous conditions. This is why the $1 million reward of James Randi is safe." Richard Dawkins

6th February 2003, 07:20 PM	#2
Truzi Guest Posts: n/a	LOL. Cool question. Well, if an animal with the disorder were to have auditory hallucinations, I'd imagine it would be sounds the chimp would normally hear, or perhaps the chimp equivalent of self-talk. I read an interesting study where people who had auditory hallucinations were compared to those who did not, while in an MRI or similar device. No one had these hallucinations during the study. They read to themselves, and the scientists monitored brain activity. It seemed an area of the brain was less active in those with hallucinations - forget the area. It was suggested that the reduced activity might have something to do with people not knowing that a thought is their own. I've not followed up on the research so I don't know if it has been replicated, nor do I know the criticisms. I'm sure someone else here should have better information.
Truzi Guest Posts: n/a

11th February 2004, 10:54 AM	#3
xouper Banned Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 2,189	bump
xouper Banned Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 2,189