A connectome-based model of delusion in schizophrenia using functional connectivity under working memory task

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• Delusions are a key symptom of schizophrenia, potentially arising from cognitive biases.
• Working memory (WM) is fundamental to cognition and closely linked to delusion formation.
• Neural mechanisms connecting WM and delusion in schizophrenia remain underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the neural mechanisms underlying the relationship between working memory and delusion in schizophrenia.
• To identify and validate delusion-related brain networks using functional connectome data.

Main Methods:

• Two hundred thirty schizophrenia patients underwent N-back WM task fMRI scanning.
• Connectome-based Predictive Modelling (CPM) was used to identify WM-related functional connectomes.
• Correlation analyses were performed to link identified networks with delusion severity in two independent datasets.

Main Results:

• A delusion-related network, comprising connections between default mode (DMN), cingulo-opercular (CON), salience (SN), subcortical, sensory-somatomotor (SMN), and visual networks, was identified.
• This network showed significant correlations with delusion severity (measured by SAPS and PANSS) in both datasets.
• Individualized delusion models based on WM-related functional connectome demonstrated strong correlations with symptom severity.

Conclusions:

• The study successfully identified and validated a delusion-related brain network associated with working memory function in schizophrenia.
• Findings highlight the importance of functional connectivity within the DMN, CON, SMN, and subcortical network in the manifestation of delusions.
• This research provides a neural basis for understanding the link between cognitive deficits and psychotic symptoms in schizophrenia.