【Abstract】 Objective To investigate the spatial characteristics in schizophrenia patients and their first degree relatives by Near Infrared Spectroscopy（NIRS）. Methods Subjects who met the inclusion crite-ria were divided into three groups：the schizophrenia patients （group A，n=20），first degree relatives （group B， n=20）and heathy persons （group C，n=20）. NIRS combined with Verbal Fluency Test were tested. The changes of oxyhemoglobin （Oxy-Hb），deoxy hemoglobin （Deoxy-Hb）and total hemoglobin （Total Hb）in three groups were analysed. Results Significant differences were found in Oxy-Hb （channel 6，7，11，14，15），Deoxy-Hb （channel 11，18，20）and Total Hb （channel 6，7，11，13，14，15）in three groups. Oxy-Hb and Total Hb（channel 6，7，11，14，15）were negative in group C，while were positive in group A. Relative average values of Oxy-Hb and Total Hb （channel 6，7）in group C were lower than that in group A and B. Relative average values of Deoxy-Hb （channel 18，20）in group A and B were lower than that in group C. Relative average values of Oxy-Hb and Total Hb（channel 14，15）and Deoxy-Hb（channel 11）in group A were higher than that in group B and C.Conclusions The prefrontal cortex function of schizophrenia patients and their first degree relatives is abnor-mal. The abnormal activation of dorsal area in the right and slow blood flow of ventral area in left prefrontal lobe may be state markers. The enhanced activation in left ventral prefrontal cortex and blood flow deficiency in right ventrolateral prefrontal cortex can be regarded as candidate biological markers of schizophrenia.