Aberrant Cortical Morphological Networks in First-Episode Schizophrenia

Area of Science:

• Neuroimaging
• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Population-based studies show altered morphological covariance networks in schizophrenia.
• Individualized brain network approaches are a recent development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate disruptions in individualized morphological brain networks in first-episode schizophrenia (FES).
• To determine if these disruptions correlate with clinical symptoms and cognitive function.
• To assess the diagnostic potential of these network alterations.

Main Methods:

• Constructed single-subject morphological brain networks for 203 FES patients and 131 controls.
• Utilized regional cortical thickness, fractal dimension, gyrification index, and sulcal depth.
• Employed the Human Connectome Project Multi-Modal Parcellation atlas for 360 cortical regions.

Main Results:

• FES patients showed reduced morphological similarity across network types, with increases in fractal dimension and sulcal depth networks.
• Altered similarities were prominent in cingulo-opercular and default mode networks.
• Network alterations correlated with clinical symptoms and cognitive deficits, outperforming local morphology in distinguishing patients.
• Graph analysis revealed intact global organization but altered nodal centrality in FES patients.

Conclusions:

• First-episode schizophrenia is associated with distinct disruptions in single-subject cortical morphological networks.
• These findings provide new insights into the neurobiological mechanisms of schizophrenia.
• Individualized network analysis offers a promising avenue for understanding schizophrenia pathophysiology.