Multimodal analyses identify linked functional and white matter abnormalities within the working memory network in...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Schizophrenia (SZ) is characterized by cognitive abnormalities linked to brain dysconnectivity.
• Previous studies using fMRI and DTI showed abnormalities in functional integration and white matter, but the relationship between functional and anatomical connectivity alterations is unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between functional and anatomical brain connectivity alterations in schizophrenia.
• To characterize linked functional and white matter changes contributing to working memory dysfunction in SZ.

Main Methods:

• Acquired fMRI data during a 2-back working memory task from 25 SZ patients and 19 healthy controls.
• Acquired DTI data in the same session.
• Utilized joint independent component analysis (JICA) on fMRI contrast maps and DTI fractional anisotropy (FA) to examine interactions between data sources.

Main Results:

• Conventional analyses revealed functional and structural deficits in SZ patients.
• JICA identified distinct multimodal brain sources in patients versus controls.
• fMRI showed hypoactivation in anterior cingulate, ventrolateral prefrontal cortex, and cuneus, and hyperactivation in frontopolar cortex in SZ.
• DTI showed reduced FA in the splenium and posterior cingulum in SZ patients.

Conclusions:

• This study advances the understanding of structure-function relationships in schizophrenia.
• Identified linked functional and white matter changes contributing to working memory deficits in SZ.