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Reduced Cerebellar Volumes Associate with P300 Amplitude Attenuation in Children with Clinical High Risk for
Hanne van der Heijden1, Hesham M Hamoda2, Aliza Ray3
1Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Insights
Children with early onset psychosis (EOP) show reduced cerebellar and frontal brain volumes, impacting neurocognitive function. These structural brain changes correlate with impaired P300 amplitudes, suggesting broader network disruptions in EOP.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Radiology
Background:
- Cognitive impairment is common in early onset psychosis (EOP) and clinical high-risk for psychosis (CHR).
- The cerebellum's role in neurocognition is established, but its structural changes in EOP are understudied.
- Investigating the cerebellum and supratentorial brain in pediatric psychosis is crucial for understanding neurodevelopmental trajectories.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate cerebellar and supratentorial brain structural morphology in children with EOP and CHR.
- To explore the relationship between central nervous system morphological changes and neurocognitive performance.
- To identify potential biomarkers for neurocognitive dysfunction in pediatric psychosis.
Main Methods:
- Whole-brain structural MRI and voxel-based morphometry were used.
- Participants included children with EOP (N=15), CHR (N=11), and healthy controls (N=13).
- Auditory event-related potential (P300 amplitude) was assessed in a subset (N=29) as a neurocognitive measure.
Main Results:
- Significant volumetric reductions were observed in cerebellar regions (Crus I, II, lobules VI, VIIIa, VIIIb, V, IX) in EOP and CHR compared to controls.
- A similar downward trend was noted for rostral middle frontal cortical (RMFC) thickness and centroparietal P300 amplitudes.
- Positive correlations were found between P300 amplitudes and cerebellar volumes, but not RMFC thickness.
Conclusions:
- Children with EOP exhibit significant morphological disruptions in cerebellar and frontal brain regions.
- These structural abnormalities, particularly in the cerebellum, may indicate widespread brain network disturbances.
- Cerebellar and frontal structural changes are associated with neurocognitive deficits in EOP, highlighting potential targets for intervention.
Abstract:
Patients with psychotic illnesses, including early onset psychosis (EOP), often experience cognitive impairment. The cerebellum is critically involved in neurocognitive processes, yet possible regional alterations in the cerebellum and their associations with behavioral parameters remain largely unexplored in EOP. In this preliminary study, we aimed to investigate structural morphological properties of the cerebellum as well as the supratentorial brain, and how morphological changes in the central nervous system relate to neurocognitive performance in children with EOP and clinical high-risk for psychosis (CHR). We performed whole-brain structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and voxel-based morphological analyses in children with EOP (N = 15), children with CHR (N = 11), and healthy controls (Con, N = 13). An auditory event-related potential (ERP) task to elicit a P300 response was also completed by a subset of children (N = 29) as a measure of neurocognitive functioning. Linear regression analyses were performed to explore relationships between cerebellar volume, cortical thickness, and P300 amplitudes. Volumetric reductions (Con > CHR > EOP) in bilateral Crus I, Crus II, lobule VI and VIIIa, left VIIIb, and right lobules V and IX of the cerebellum were observed (p < 0.05). This downward trend across study cohorts was also evident for rostral middle frontal cortical (RMFC) thickness, and for centroparietal P300 amplitudes. Significant positive correlations among P300 amplitudes and cerebellar volumes were observed (p < 0.05). Significant correlations between P300 amplitudes and RMFC thickness were not present. Robust morphological disruptions in cerebellar subdivisions and frontal subdivisions were quantified in children with EOP. Structural abnormalities in these regions, particularly in the cerebellum, may signify broader brain network disruptions, potentially contributing to neurocognitive dysfunction in EOP.
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