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Prefrontal brain network connectivity indicates degree of both schizophrenia risk and cognitive dysfunction
Paul G Unschuld1, Alison S Buchholz, Mark Varvaris
1*To whom correspondence should be addressed; Division of Psychiatry Research and Psychogeriatric Medicine, University of Zürich, Minervastrasse 145, CH-8032 Zürich, Switzerland; tel: +41-44-3891-453, fax: +41-44-3891-447,
Schizophrenia Bulletin
|June 20, 2013
Summary
Individuals at risk for schizophrenia exhibit cognitive deficits linked to increased connectivity in specific brain networks, potentially as a compensatory mechanism. This study explores brain network integrity and cognitive performance in schizophrenia risk assessment.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Cognitive dysfunction is a hallmark of schizophrenia.
- Individuals at risk for schizophrenia may present with subtle attention and working memory deficits.
- Understanding the neural basis of these deficits is crucial for early intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between functional brain network integrity and cognitive performance in attention and working memory.
- To examine how brain network integrity differs across varying levels of schizophrenia risk.
- To identify potential neural markers associated with schizophrenia risk.
Main Methods:
- Utilized resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in 235 adults across three risk groups: schizophrenia outpatients, unaffected first-degree relatives, and healthy controls.
- Assessed attention and working memory using standardized cognitive tasks.
- Defined functional brain networks based on connectivity with seeds in key prefrontal and visual cortex regions.
Main Results:
- Both schizophrenia patients and their first-degree relatives demonstrated cognitive dysfunction compared to healthy controls.
- An inverse relationship was observed between cognitive performance and functional connectivity within the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) networks.
- Higher schizophrenia risk status was associated with increased connectivity within the DLPFC and MPFC networks.
Conclusions:
- Excessive connectivity within DLPFC and MPFC networks is associated with cognitive deficits in individuals at risk for schizophrenia.
- This heightened connectivity may represent a compensatory neural response to brain changes related to schizophrenia.
- These findings offer insights into the neural underpinnings of cognitive dysfunction in the schizophrenia spectrum.
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