Altered Associations Between Task Performance and Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex Activation During Cognitive Control...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Psychology
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Cognitive control dysfunction is a hallmark of schizophrenia (SZ).
• The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) is implicated in SZ-related cognitive control deficits.
• Investigating the link between DLPFC activation and cognitive performance in SZ is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the relationship between dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) activation and drift rate (DR) in individuals with schizophrenia (SZ) and healthy controls (HC).
• To understand how cognitive control is mediated by DLPFC in SZ.

Main Methods:

• 151 individuals with recent-onset SZ spectrum disorders and 118 HC participants underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) while performing the AX-Continuous Performance Task.
• Activation in left and right DLPFC regions of interest was analyzed.
• Behavioral data were modeled using a drift diffusion model to calculate drift rate (DR).

Main Results:

• Individuals with SZ exhibited significantly lower drift rates (DRs) than HC participants, especially during high proactive control trials.
• The SZ group showed reduced cognitive control-associated DLPFC activation compared to HC participants.
• A positive relationship between DLPFC activation and DR was observed in HC participants but not in individuals with SZ.

Conclusions:

• Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) activation is less associated with cognitive control-related behavioral improvements in schizophrenia (SZ).
• These findings suggest altered neural mechanisms underlying cognitive control in SZ.
• Further research into potential mechanisms and implications for treatment is warranted.