Hippocampal and parahippocampal volumes in schizophrenia: a structural MRI study
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Kang Sim1, Iain DeWitt, Tali Ditman
1Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorders Program, McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Mill Street, Belmont, MA, 02478, USA. ksim@mclean.harvard.edu
Abstract:
Smaller medial temporal lobe volume is a frequent finding in studies of patients with schizophrenia, but the relative contributions of the hippocampus and three surrounding cortical regions (entorhinal cortex, perirhinal cortex, and parahippocampal cortex) are poorly understood. We tested the hypothesis that the volumes of medial temporal lobe regions are selectively changed in schizophrenia. We studied 19 male patients with schizophrenia and 19 age-matched male control subjects. Hippocampal and cortical volumes were estimated using a three-dimensional morphometric protocol for the analysis of high-resolution structural magnetic resonance images, and repeated measures ANOVA was used to test for region-specific differences. Patients had smaller overall medial temporal lobe volumes compared to controls. The volume difference was not specific for either region or hemisphere. The finding of smaller medial temporal lobe volumes in the absence of regional specificity has important implications for studying the functional role of the hippocampus and surrounding cortical regions in schizophrenia.
Insights
Patients with schizophrenia exhibit smaller medial temporal lobe volumes, including the hippocampus and surrounding cortical regions. This volume reduction was not specific to any particular region or hemisphere in the study.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Radiology
Background:
- Smaller medial temporal lobe volume is frequently observed in schizophrenia.
- The specific contributions of the hippocampus and surrounding cortical regions (entorhinal, perirhinal, parahippocampal) to this volume reduction are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the hypothesis that medial temporal lobe regions show selective volume changes in schizophrenia.
- To investigate regional specificity of volume differences in schizophrenia.
Main Methods:
- Studied 19 male patients with schizophrenia and 19 age-matched male controls.
- Estimated hippocampal and cortical volumes using 3D morphometry on high-resolution structural MRI.
- Utilized repeated measures ANOVA to assess region-specific differences.
Main Results:
- Patients with schizophrenia had significantly smaller overall medial temporal lobe volumes compared to controls.
- The volume reduction was not specific to the hippocampus or the surrounding cortical regions.
- No significant difference in volume reduction was observed between hemispheres.
Conclusions:
- Schizophrenia is associated with generalized smaller medial temporal lobe volumes, not selective to specific subregions.
- The lack of regional specificity has implications for understanding the functional roles of the hippocampus and associated cortical areas in schizophrenia.
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