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Altered functional and anatomical connectivity in schizophrenia.
Jazmin Camchong1, Angus W MacDonald, Christopher Bell
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, 717 Delaware Street SE, Suite 516, Minneapolis, MN 55414, USA. camch001@umn.edu
Schizophrenia Bulletin
|November 19, 2009
Summary
Schizophrenia is linked to altered brain connectivity, particularly in frontal regions. These changes in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) findings correlate with symptom severity and cognitive function.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Schizophrenia involves a lack of integration in thought, emotion, and behavior.
- Disrupted brain connectivity is hypothesized to underlie these symptoms.
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) are key tools for assessing brain connectivity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate functional and anatomical brain connectivity in schizophrenia patients using fMRI and DTI.
- To investigate the relationship between brain connectivity and behavioral measures in schizophrenia.
Main Methods:
- Recruited 29 schizophrenia patients and 29 controls.
- Acquired resting-state fMRI and DTI scans.
- Analyzed fMRI data using independent component analysis for the default mode network (DMN) and DTI data for fractional anisotropy.
Main Results:
- Schizophrenia patients exhibited altered functional and anatomical connectivity in medial frontal and anterior cingulate gyri.
- Frontal connectivity in patients was positively associated with symptom severity and cognitive abilities.
Conclusions:
- Convergent fMRI and DTI findings support the disconnection hypothesis in schizophrenia.
- The study highlights altered connectivity in medial frontal regions and its link to behavior.
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