Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 12, 2025

Probing the Brain in Autism Using fMRI and Diffusion Tensor Imaging
Published on: September 12, 2011
Abnormal white matter functional connectivity density in antipsychotic-naive adolescents with schizophrenia
Xiao Wang1, Wei Liao2, Shaoqiang Han2
1The Center of Psychosomatic Medicine, Sichuan Provincial Center for Mental Health, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, PR China.
Objectives:
This study aimed to assess the white matter (WM) functional hubs and abnormal functional connectivity pattern in adolescents with schizophrenia (AOS) and to explore the potential mechanisms.
Methods:
Based on resting-state fMRI data, we measured the WM functional connectivity density (FCD) at local- and long- ranges in 39 AOS and 31 healthy controls (HCs). Group comparison was conducted between the two groups. Spearman rank correlation analysis between the altered WM FCD and clinical PANSS scores was performed.
Results:
In the local scale, the functional hubs of the WM were mainly located in the corona radiata and cerebellum. Compared with HCs, AOS patients exhibited decreased FCD in the superior corona radiata. In the long-range, the functional hubs of the WM were mainly located in the external capsule and pons. AOS patients exhibited increased FCD in the cingulum but decreased FCD in the right dorsal raphe nuclei (DR). Furthermore, the aberrant long-range FCD in the right DR was inversely proportional to the clinical symptoms.
Conclusion:
These findings indicated that the pathophysiology of schizophrenia may also lie in WM functional dysconnectivity.
Significance:
The current results provided initial evidence for the hypothesis of abnormal WM functional connectivity in schizophrenia.
More Related Videos
13:26Measuring Connectivity in the Primary Visual Pathway in Human Albinism Using Diffusion Tensor Imaging and Tractography
Published on: August 11, 2016
13:08Measurement of Fronto-limbic Activity Using an Emotional Oddball Task in Children with Familial High Risk for Schizophrenia
Published on: December 2, 2015
Related Concept Videos
Biological Causes of Schizophrenia
Genetic Factors in Schizophrenia
The genetic basis of schizophrenia is strongly supported by family and twin...
Negative and Cognitive Symptoms of Schizophrenia
Negative Symptoms
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia manifest as deficits in normal emotional and behavioral functioning, profoundly impacting daily life. Individuals with schizophrenia often display a flat affect, characterized by a near-total absence of emotional expression,...
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings....
Psychosis: Pathophysiology of Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders
Researchers have identified genetic factors that increase susceptibility to schizophrenia, underscoring the intricate interplay between genetics and environment in disease development. At the core of schizophrenia's pathophysiology is excessive dopaminergic neurotransmission within...
Schizophrenia