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Cerebellar Effects on Abnormal Psychomotor Function Are Mediated by Processing Speed in Psychosis Spectrum
Alexandra B Moussa-Tooks1, Jinyuan Liu2, Kristan Armstrong3
1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1601 23rd Avenue South, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA. amoussat@iu.edu.
Cerebellum (London, England)
|August 4, 2023
Summary
Psychomotor disturbance in psychosis is linked to cerebellar function via processing speed. This study reveals how cerebellar grey matter volume impacts processing speed, which in turn affects psychomotor symptoms in patients.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Psychomotor disturbance is a core feature of psychotic disorders, affecting over 66% of unmedicated, first-episode patients.
- Cerebellar abnormalities are implicated in sensorimotor deficits, including processing speed, potentially underlying psychomotor disturbances in psychosis.
- The precise brain-behavior-symptom relationships, especially considering diagnostic heterogeneity, remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mediating role of processing speed in the relationship between cerebellar grey matter volume and psychomotor disturbance in psychosis.
- To examine how cerebellar sensorimotor network integrity relates to processing speed and psychomotor symptoms in schizophrenia-spectrum and bipolar disorder patients.
Main Methods:
- Utilized neuroimaging (cerebellar grey matter volume) and neuropsychological testing (processing speed) in 339 psychosis patients and 217 controls.
- Assessed psychomotor disturbance using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and processing speed via the SCIP.
- Employed mediation models controlling for intracranial volume, age, sex, and medication (chlorpromazine equivalents).
Main Results:
- Significant mediation by processing speed was observed.
- A small positive effect of cerebellar grey matter volume on processing speed (ß = 0.172, p = 0.029).
- A medium negative effect of processing speed on psychomotor disturbance (ß = -0.254, p < 0.001), indicating slower processing speed exacerbates psychomotor symptoms.
Conclusions:
- Cerebellar circuitry plays a critical role in processing speed deficits associated with psychosis.
- Processing speed acts as a key mediator linking cerebellar function to psychomotor phenotypes in psychotic disorders.
- Findings support the development of targeted interventions, such as Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), for psychosis-related sensorimotor impairments.
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