Reconciling abnormalities of brain network structure and function in schizophrenia

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Brain Imaging

Background:

• Schizophrenia is characterized by abnormal brain connectivity.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reveals reduced structural connectivity in patients.
• Functional connectivity findings are often contradictory, with some studies reporting increases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To reconcile conflicting findings between structural and functional connectivity in schizophrenia.
• To propose a pathophysiological explanation for increased functional connectivity.
• To highlight the role of neurodevelopmental wiring in schizophrenia's connectivity abnormalities.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies on brain connectivity in schizophrenia.
• Analysis of methodological and mechanistic accounts for discrepancies in connectivity findings.
• Theoretical framework integrating structural and functional connectivity.

Main Results:

• Reduced structural connectivity is consistently observed in schizophrenia.
• Increased functional connectivity is frequently reported, contrasting with structural findings.
• Abnormal neurodevelopmental wiring is proposed as a unifying mechanism.

Conclusions:

• Increased functional connectivity in schizophrenia likely stems from pathophysiological dysregulation.
• This dysregulation arises from abnormal neurodevelopmental wiring of structural connections.
• Understanding how network structure influences function is crucial for schizophrenia research.