Altered default mode network activity and cortical thickness as vulnerability indicators for SCZ: a preliminary...

Area of Science:

• Neuroimaging
• Psychiatry
• Brain Function

Background:

• Schizophrenia (SCZ) is associated with brain function alterations evident in resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI).
• Previous studies on chronic SCZ noted default mode network (DMN) deficits and gray matter changes.
• Cortical thickness and surface area in first-episode SCZ patients remain under-investigated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate cortical thickness and DMN connectivity in first-episode SCZ patients using rs-fMRI.
• To compare brain structure and function between SCZ patients and healthy controls.

Main Methods:

• Independent Component Analysis (ICA) applied to rs-fMRI data from 15 SCZ patients and 15 matched healthy controls.
• Analysis performed using MELODIC (FSL software) to identify coherent brain networks.

Main Results:

• SCZ patients exhibited significantly higher functional connectivity in the DMN, auditory, and cerebellum networks compared to controls.
• Patients showed reduced cortical thickness in bilateral prefrontal and parietal cortex.
• Increased cortical thickness was observed in bilateral anterior temporal lobes, left medial orbitofrontal cortex, and left cuneus.

Conclusions:

• Abnormal DMN connectivity and cortical thickness are significant contributors to functional pathology in SCZ.
• These findings provide insights into the neurobiological underpinnings of schizophrenia.