[Frequency-Specific Alterations of Spontaneous Brain Activity in First-Episode Drug-Naïve Schizophrenia]

Area of Science:

• Neuroimaging
• Psychiatry
• Neuroscience

Context:

• Schizophrenia (SZ) is a complex psychiatric disorder characterized by disruptions in brain function.
• Understanding the neural underpinnings of early-stage SZ is crucial for developing effective treatments.
• Resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) allows for the investigation of spontaneous brain activity.

Purpose:

• To investigate frequency-specific alterations in spontaneous brain activity in first-episode, drug-naïve schizophrenia (SZ) patients.
• To explore the association between these brain activity changes and clinical symptoms in SZ patients.
• To analyze amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) and regional homogeneity (ReHo) across different frequency bands.

Summary:

• rs-fMRI data from 84 SZ patients and 94 healthy controls (HCs) were analyzed for ALFF and ReHo in four frequency bands.
• SZ patients exhibited reduced ALFF in the cerebellum and increased ALFF in the temporal lobe at specific frequencies.
• Reduced ReHo was observed in the precentral and postcentral gyri in SZ patients at the slow-3 band.

Impact:

• The findings highlight frequency-specific alterations in local spontaneous brain activity in early-stage SZ.
• These results contribute to a better understanding of the neurobiological basis of schizophrenia.
• Identifying frequency-specific abnormalities may offer novel targets for future diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in SZ.