Altered Heschl's gyrus duplication pattern in first-episode schizophrenia

Area of Science:

• Neuroimaging
• Psychiatry
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Background:

• Reduced gray matter volume in the superior temporal gyrus, including Heschl's gyrus (HG) and planum temporale (PT), is noted in schizophrenia (Sz).
• Altered sulcogyral patterns on the superior temporal plane in Sz remain under-investigated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate Heschl's gyrus (HG) duplication patterns (single HG, common stem duplication [CSD], or complete posterior duplication [CPD]) in first-episode schizophrenia (FESz).
• To examine the relationship between HG duplication patterns, clinical variables, and gray matter volumes in HG and PT in FESz patients and healthy controls.

Main Methods:

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to analyze HG duplication patterns and gray matter volumes.
• 64 first-episode schizophrenia patients and 64 healthy controls were included in the study.

Main Results:

• FESz patients exhibited a higher prevalence of duplicated HG patterns and smaller HG and PT gray matter volumes compared to controls.
• A right complete posterior duplication (CPD) pattern in FESz was linked to less severe positive symptoms.
• Both CSD and CPD patterns correlated with larger HG and PT volumes, respectively, in both groups.

Conclusions:

• An altered HG duplication pattern is present in the early stages of schizophrenia, potentially indicating early neurodevelopmental anomalies.
• The observed reductions in HG and PT volumes in FESz are not solely explained by the altered sulcogyral pattern, highlighting complex superior temporal pathology in schizophrenia.