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Updated: Jul 1, 2026
Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Analysis of Neurodegenerative Diseases
Published on: July 28, 2013
Microstructural thalamic changes in schizophrenia: a combined anatomic and diffusion weighted magnetic resonance
Nivedita Agarwal1, Gianluca Rambaldelli, Cinzia Perlini
1Department of Medical and Morphological Research, Section of Radiology, University of Udine, Udine, Italy.
Objective:
Several magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and postmortem studies have supported the role of the thalamus in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Interestingly, a recent small diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) study showed abnormal thalamic microstructure in patients with schizophrenia. The objective of our study was to use structural MRI and DWI to explore for the first time both thalamic volumes and integrity in schizophrenia.
Methods:
We measured thalamic volumes and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) measures bilaterally in 71 patients with schizophrenia, representative of those living in the geographically defined catchment area of South Verona (i.e., 100 000 inhabitants), and 75 individuals without schizophrenia. The presence of the adhesio interthalamica was also detected.
Results:
We found no significant differences in thalamus size between patients with schizophrenia and participants in the control group, with only a trend for decreased left volumes. No abnormal frequency of the adhesio interthalamica was found. In contrast, significantly increased thalamic ADC values were shown in schizophrenia patients. Age significantly inversely correlated with thalamic volumes in both groups and correlated positively with posterior ADCs in patients with schizophrenia. No significant associations between clinical variables and either volumes or ADC values were reported.
Conclusion:
Widespread altered microstructure integrity and partially preserved thalamus size were found in schizophrenia patients. Therefore, subtle thalamic structural abnormalities are present in schizophrenia, even with maintained volumes. This may result from disruption at the cytoarchitecture level, ultimately supporting corticothalamic misconnection. Future imaging studies should further explore thalamic tissue coherence and its role for cognitive disturbances in patients at high risk for schizophrenia and in first-degree relatives.
Insights
Schizophrenia patients show altered thalamic microstructure integrity, with increased apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values, despite maintained thalamus size. These subtle structural changes suggest cytoarchitectural disruption, supporting corticothalamic misconnection theories.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Psychiatric Disorders
- Neuroanatomy
Background:
- The thalamus plays a role in schizophrenia pathophysiology.
- Previous studies suggest abnormal thalamic microstructure in schizophrenia using diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate thalamic volumes and microstructural integrity in schizophrenia using structural MRI and DWI.
- This study aimed to explore thalamic abnormalities in schizophrenia for the first time.
Main Methods:
- Structural MRI and DWI were used to measure thalamic volumes and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values in 71 schizophrenia patients and 75 controls.
- The presence of adhesio interthalamica was also assessed.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in thalamus volume were found between groups, though a trend for decreased left volumes was observed.
- Thalamic ADC values were significantly increased in schizophrenia patients, indicating altered microstructure.
- Age correlated with thalamic volumes and ADC values, but no significant associations were found between clinical variables and imaging measures.
Conclusions:
- Schizophrenia is associated with widespread altered thalamic microstructure integrity, even with preserved thalamus size.
- Subtle structural abnormalities at the cytoarchitectural level may contribute to corticothalamic misconnections in schizophrenia.
- Further research is needed to explore thalamic tissue coherence and its role in cognitive disturbances in schizophrenia.
