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Association of fronto-temporal function with cognitive ability in schizophrenia
Shenghong Pu1, Kazuyuki Nakagome2, Masashi Itakura1
1Division of Neuropsychiatry, Department of Brain and Neuroscience, Tottori University Faculty of Medicine: 36-1 Nishi-cho, Yonago, Tottori 683-8504, Japan.
Schizophrenia patients show reduced fronto-temporal brain activity. Enhancing this function, particularly in the dorso-lateral prefrontal cortex and frontopolar cortex, may improve social outcomes more than cognitive training.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Neuropsychological deficits are prevalent in schizophrenia.
- The link between these deficits and fronto-temporal dysfunction is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between cognitive function, social cognition (theory of mind), and fronto-temporal brain activity in schizophrenia patients.
- To compare brain activity in patients and healthy controls using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS).
Main Methods:
- 23 schizophrenia patients and 23 healthy controls underwent NIRS.
- Cognitive function was assessed using the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS).
- Social cognition was measured using the Social Cognition Screening Questionnaire theory of mind (ToM) subscale.
Main Results:
- Schizophrenia patients exhibited smaller hemodynamic responses in ventro-lateral prefrontal cortex/anterior temporal cortex (VLPFC/aTC) and dorso-lateral prefrontal cortex/frontopolar cortex (DLPFC/FPC) regions compared to controls.
- After controlling for general cognitive function (BACS), the correlation between ToM and brain activity remained significant only in the DLPFC/FPC region.
Conclusions:
- Fronto-temporal functional abnormalities are present in schizophrenia.
- Targeting fronto-temporal function, especially in the DLPFC/FPC, may be crucial for improving social and occupational outcomes in schizophrenia recovery.
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