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Paracingulate sulcus morphology is associated with hallucinations in the human brain
Jane R Garrison1,2, Charles Fernyhough3, Simon McCarthy-Jones4,5
1Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EB, UK.
Nature Communications
|November 18, 2015
Summary
Brain structure differences, specifically in the paracingulate sulcus, predict hallucinations in schizophrenia patients. A 1cm reduction in sulcal length increases hallucination likelihood by 19.9%.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Brain Imaging
Background:
- Hallucinations are prevalent in psychiatric disorders and also occur in non-clinical populations.
- Understanding the neurobiological underpinnings of hallucinations is crucial for both typical and atypical human experiences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify specific brain structural markers that predict the occurrence of hallucinations.
- To compare brain morphology in schizophrenia patients with and without a history of hallucinations.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a cohort of 153 participants, including schizophrenia patients with and without hallucinations, matched for demographic and clinical variables.
- Employed both validated visual classification techniques and automated, data-driven methods for brain morphology analysis.
Main Results:
- Identified significant brain morphology differences in the paracingulate sulcus (medial prefrontal cortex).
- A 1 cm reduction in sulcal length was associated with a 19.9% increased likelihood of experiencing hallucinations.
- This association was independent of the sensory modality of the hallucinations.
Conclusions:
- Findings suggest a specific morphological basis for hallucinations.
- The paracingulate sulcus may represent a key neuroanatomical predictor of hallucinatory experiences.
- These results contribute to understanding a pervasive feature of human experience.
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