Multiple Network Dysconnectivity in Adolescents with Psychotic Experiences: A Longitudinal Population-Based Study

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Developmental Psychology

Background:

• Abnormal functional connectivity (FC) in default mode (DMN), salience (SN), central executive (CEN), and motor (MN) networks is characteristic of psychosis.
• Limited understanding exists regarding FC in adolescents with subthreshold psychotic experiences (PE) and its longitudinal changes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate functional connectivity (FC) of the DMN, SN, CEN, and MN in adolescents reporting psychotic experiences (PE).
• To examine the trajectory of FC over a two-year period in this population.

Main Methods:

• A population-based case-control study involving 24 adolescents with PE and matched controls, with neuroimaging scans at baseline and a 2-year follow-up.
• Whole-brain functional connectivity (FC) analyses were conducted to compare network connectivity between groups.

Main Results:

• Adolescents with PE exhibited significant hypoconnectivity compared to controls at both baseline and follow-up.
• At baseline, decreased FC was observed between the motor network (MN) and default mode network (DMN) in the PE group.
• Follow-up revealed more widespread dysconnectivity in the PE group, while controls showed greater increases in FC over time.

Conclusions:

• Adolescents with PE display hypoconnectivity across multiple functional networks, mirroring patterns seen in established psychosis.
• These findings suggest that studying adolescents with PE can reveal early neural correlates of psychosis.
• Further research is warranted to explore the role of the motor network (MN) in PE and psychotic disorders.