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Temporolimbic volume reductions in schizophrenia
R E Gur1, B I Turetsky, P E Cowell
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Archives of General Psychiatry
|August 2, 2000
Summary
Schizophrenia impacts brain structure, with reduced gray matter in temporal lobes for both sexes. Men showed widespread reductions, while women had decreased hippocampal and increased amygdala volumes, linked to cognitive function.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Psychiatry
- Neuroanatomy
Background:
- Temporolimbic abnormalities are noted in schizophrenia.
- Previous MRI studies often used small, male-dominated samples.
- Investigating sex differences in temporal lobe subregions is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate sex differences in temporal lobe subregion volumes using MRI.
- To correlate these volumes with clinical and neurocognitive parameters in schizophrenia.
Main Methods:
- MRI scans of 100 schizophrenia patients and 110 controls.
- Examined gray and white matter volumes of hippocampus, amygdala, superior temporal gyrus, and temporal pole.
- Assessed symptoms, functioning, and neurocognition.
Main Results:
- Reduced hippocampal gray matter in both male and female patients.
- Men showed decreased amygdala volume; women showed increased amygdala volume.
- Temporal pole gray matter decreased in both sexes; superior temporal gyrus decreased more in men.
Conclusions:
- Schizophrenia involves reduced temporolimbic gray matter, with sex-specific amygdala volume changes.
- Abnormalities are present even in first-episode schizophrenia.
- Volume changes correlate more with cognitive performance than symptom severity.