Grey matter volume and structural covariance associated with schizotypy

Area of Science:

• Neuroimaging
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Schizotypy is a personality trait associated with increased risk for psychosis.
• Understanding the neurobiological underpinnings of high schizotypy is crucial for early intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate structural brain differences in healthy individuals with high schizotypy.
• To explore the relationship between brain structure and schizotypal personality traits.

Main Methods:

• Grey matter volume and structural covariance analyses were performed on T1-weighted MRI images.
• Participants included 87 college students with high schizotypy and 122 controls.
• The Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ) was used to assess schizotypy levels.

Main Results:

• Individuals with high schizotypy exhibited decreased grey matter volume in the left medial superior frontal gyrus (medsFG).
• Reduced structural covariance was observed in the right medsFG, superior frontal gyrus (sFG), superior temporal gyrus, and anterior insula.
• Increased structural covariance was found between the caudate and right inferior temporal gyrus.
• Brain structure correlations with SPQ scores varied across different sub-scales and brain regions.

Conclusions:

• High schizotypy is associated with significant grey matter structural alterations, particularly in the medsFG.
• These findings contribute to understanding the neurobiological basis of schizotypy and its spectrum.
• Structural covariance patterns offer insights into functional connectivity differences in high schizotypy.