1
|
Yang Y, Fu S, Jiang G, Xu G, Tian J, Ma X. Functional connectivity changes of the hippocampal subregions in anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis. Brain Imaging Behav 2024; 18:686-697. [PMID: 38363500 DOI: 10.1007/s11682-024-00852-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
The hippocampus plays an important role in the pathophysiological mechanism of Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (anti-NMDAR) encephalitis. Nevertheless, the connection between the resting-state activity of the hippocampal subregions and neuropsychiatric disorders in patients remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the changes in functional connectivity (FC) in the hippocampal subregions of patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis and its association with clinical symptoms and cognitive performance. Twenty-three patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis and 23 healthy controls (HC) were recruited. All participants underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) scans and completed clinical cognitive scales. Based on the Brainnetome Atlas, the rostral (anterior) and caudal (posterior) hippocampi of both the left and right hemispheres were selected as regions of interest (ROIs) for FC analysis. First, a one-sample t-test was used to observe the whole-brain connectivity distribution of hippocampal subregions within the patient and HC groups at a threshold of p < 0.05. The two-sample t-test was used to compare the differences in hippocampal ROIs connectivity between groups, followed by a partial correlation analysis between the FC values of brain regions with statistical differences and clinical variables. This study observed that the distribution of whole-brain functional connectivity in the rostral and caudal hippocampi aligned with the connectivity differences between the anterior and posterior hippocampi. Compared to the HC group, the patients showed significantly decreased FC between the bilateral rostral hippocampus and the left inferior orbitofrontal gyrus and between the right rostral hippocampus and the right cerebellum. However, a significant increase in FC was observed between the right rostral hippocampus and left superior temporal gyrus, the left caudal hippocampus and right superior frontal gyrus, and the right caudal hippocampus and left gyrus rectus. Partial correlation analysis showed that FC between the left inferior orbitofrontal gyrus and the right rostral hippocampus was significantly negatively correlated with the California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT) and Brief Visuospatial Memory Test (BVMT) scores. The FC between the right rostral hippocampus and the left superior temporal gyrus was negatively correlated with BVMT scores. FC abnormalities in the hippocampal subregions of patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis were associated with cognitive impairment, emotional changes, and seizures. These results may help explain the pathophysiological mechanisms and clinical manifestations of anti-NMDAR encephalitis and NMDAR dysfunction-related diseases such as schizophrenia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yujie Yang
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medial University, Guangzhou City, Guangdong province, PR China
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, No. 466 Road Xingang, Guangzhou, 510317, P. R. China
| | - Shishun Fu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, No. 466 Road Xingang, Guangzhou, 510317, P. R. China
| | - Guihua Jiang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, No. 466 Road Xingang, Guangzhou, 510317, P. R. China
| | - Guang Xu
- Department of Neurology, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, No.466 Road Xingang, Guangzhou, 510317, P. R. China
| | - Junzhang Tian
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, No. 466 Road Xingang, Guangzhou, 510317, P. R. China.
| | - Xiaofen Ma
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, No. 466 Road Xingang, Guangzhou, 510317, P. R. China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Rocca P, Brasso C, Montemagni C, Del Favero E, Bellino S, Bozzatello P, Giordano GM, Caporusso E, Fazio L, Pergola G, Blasi G, Amore M, Calcagno P, Rossi R, Rossi A, Bertolino A, Galderisi S, Maj M. The relationship between the resting state functional connectivity and social cognition in schizophrenia: Results from the Italian Network for Research on Psychoses. Schizophr Res 2024; 267:330-340. [PMID: 38613864 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2024.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 03/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024]
Abstract
Deficits in social cognition (SC) interfere with recovery in schizophrenia (SZ) and may be related to resting state brain connectivity. This study aimed at assessing the alterations in the relationship between resting state functional connectivity and the social-cognitive abilities of patients with SZ compared to healthy subjects. We divided the brain into 246 regions of interest (ROI) following the Human Healthy Volunteers Brainnetome Atlas. For each participant, we calculated the resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) in terms of degree centrality (DC), which evaluates the total strength of the most powerful coactivations of every ROI with all other ROIs during rest. The rs-DC of the ROIs was correlated with five measures of SC assessing emotion processing and mentalizing in 45 healthy volunteers (HVs) chosen as a normative sample. Then, controlling for symptoms severity, we verified whether these significant associations were altered, i.e., absent or of opposite sign, in 55 patients with SZ. We found five significant differences between SZ patients and HVs: in the patients' group, the correlations between emotion recognition tasks and rsFC of the right entorhinal cortex (R-EC), left superior parietal lobule (L-SPL), right caudal hippocampus (R-c-Hipp), and the right caudal (R-c) and left rostral (L-r) middle temporal gyri (MTG) were lost. An altered resting state functional connectivity of the L-SPL, R-EC, R-c-Hipp, and bilateral MTG in patients with SZ may be associated with impaired emotion recognition. If confirmed, these results may enhance the development of non-invasive brain stimulation interventions targeting those cerebral regions to reduce SC deficit in SZ.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paola Rocca
- Department of Neuroscience 'Rita Levi Montalcini', University of Turin, Via Cherasco, 15, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Claudio Brasso
- Department of Neuroscience 'Rita Levi Montalcini', University of Turin, Via Cherasco, 15, 10126 Turin, Italy.
| | - Cristiana Montemagni
- Department of Neuroscience 'Rita Levi Montalcini', University of Turin, Via Cherasco, 15, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Elisa Del Favero
- Department of Neuroscience 'Rita Levi Montalcini', University of Turin, Via Cherasco, 15, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Silvio Bellino
- Department of Neuroscience 'Rita Levi Montalcini', University of Turin, Via Cherasco, 15, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Paola Bozzatello
- Department of Neuroscience 'Rita Levi Montalcini', University of Turin, Via Cherasco, 15, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Giulia Maria Giordano
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania 'Luigi Vanvitelli', Largo Madonna Delle Grazie, 1, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Edoardo Caporusso
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania 'Luigi Vanvitelli', Largo Madonna Delle Grazie, 1, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Leonardo Fazio
- Department of Basic Medical Science, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari 'Aldo Moro', Policlinico, Piazza G. Cesare, 11, 70124 Bari, Italy; Department of Medicine and Surgery, LUM University, Strada Statale 100, 70010 Casamassima (BA), Italy
| | - Giulio Pergola
- Department of Basic Medical Science, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari 'Aldo Moro', Policlinico, Piazza G. Cesare, 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Blasi
- Department of Basic Medical Science, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari 'Aldo Moro', Policlinico, Piazza G. Cesare, 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Mario Amore
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Maternal and Child Health, Section of Psychiatry, University of Genoa, Largo Paolo Daneo, 3, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Pietro Calcagno
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Maternal and Child Health, Section of Psychiatry, University of Genoa, Largo Paolo Daneo, 3, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Rodolfo Rossi
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, via Vetoio - Coppito, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy; Policlinico Tor Vergata, Viale Oxford, 81, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Rossi
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, via Vetoio - Coppito, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Alessandro Bertolino
- Department of Basic Medical Science, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari 'Aldo Moro', Policlinico, Piazza G. Cesare, 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Silvana Galderisi
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania 'Luigi Vanvitelli', Largo Madonna Delle Grazie, 1, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Mario Maj
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania 'Luigi Vanvitelli', Largo Madonna Delle Grazie, 1, 80138 Naples, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Zhou Z, Jones K, Ivleva EI, Colon-Perez L. Macro- and Micro-Structural Alterations in the Midbrain in Early Psychosis. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.10.588901. [PMID: 38645197 PMCID: PMC11030414 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.10.588901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
Introduction Early psychosis (EP) is a critical period in the course of psychotic disorders during which the brain is thought to undergo rapid and significant functional and structural changes 1 . Growing evidence suggests that the advent of psychotic disorders is early alterations in the brain's functional connectivity and structure, leading to aberrant neural network organization. The Human Connectome Project (HCP) is a global effort to map the human brain's connectivity in healthy and disease populations; within HCP, there is a specific dataset that focuses on the EP subjects (i.e., those within five years of the initial psychotic episode) (HCP-EP), which is the focus of our study. Given the critically important role of the midbrain function and structure in psychotic disorders (cite), and EP in particular (cite), we specifically focused on the midbrain macro- and micro-structural alterations and their association with clinical outcomes in HCP-EP. Methods We examined macro- and micro-structural brain alterations in the HCP-EP sample (n=179: EP, n=123, Controls, n=56) as well as their associations with behavioral measures (i.e., symptoms severity) using a stepwise approach, incorporating a multimodal MRI analysis procedure. First, Deformation Based Morphometry (DBM) was carried out on the whole brain 3 Tesla T1w images to examine gross brain anatomy (i.e., seed-based and voxel-based volumes). Second, we extracted Fractional Anisotropy (FA), Axial Diffusivity (AD), and Mean Diffusivity (MD) indices from the Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) data; a midbrain mask was created based on FreeSurfer v.6.0 atlas. Third, we employed Tract-Based Spatial Statistics (TBSS) to determine microstructural alterations in white matter tracts within the midbrain and broader regions. Finally, we conducted correlation analyses to examine associations between the DBM-, DTI- and TBSS-based outcomes and the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) scores. Results DBM analysis showed alterations in the hippocampus, midbrain, and caudate/putamen. A DTI voxel-based analysis shows midbrain reductions in FA and AD and increases in MD; meanwhile, the hippocampus shows an increase in FA and a decrease in AD and MD. Several key brain regions also show alterations in DTI indices (e.g., insula, caudate, prefrontal cortex). A seed-based analysis centered around a midbrain region of interest obtained from freesurfer segmentation confirms the voxel-based analysis of DTI indices. TBSS successfully captured structural differences within the midbrain and complementary alterations in other main white matter tracts, such as the corticospinal tract and cingulum, suggesting early altered brain connectivity in EP. Correlations between these quantities in the EP group and behavioral scores (i.e., PANSS and CAINS tests) were explored. It was found that midbrain volume noticeably correlates with the Cognitive score of PA and all DTI metrics. FA correlates with the several dimensions of the PANSS, while AD and MD do not show many associations with PANSS or CAINS. Conclusions Our findings contribute to understanding the midbrain-focused circuitry involvement in EP and complimentary alteration in EP. Our work provides a path for future investigations to inform specific brain-based biomarkers of EP and their relationships to clinical manifestations of the psychosis course.
Collapse
|
4
|
Pelgrim TAD, Ramaekers JG, Wall MB, Freeman TP, Bossong MG. Acute effects of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on resting state connectivity networks and impact of COMT genotype: A multi-site pharmacological fMRI study. Drug Alcohol Depend 2023; 251:110925. [PMID: 37598453 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2023.110925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cannabis produces various acute psychotropic effects, with marked individual differences. Cannabis use is a risk factor for developing psychotic disorders. The main component responsible for these effects is Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Here we investigated the neural basis of acute THC effects and its modulation by catechol-methyl-transferase (COMT) Val158Met genotype. METHODS Resting state functional MRI data of healthy occasional cannabis users were combined and re-analyzed from three double-blind, placebo-controlled, within-subject pharmacological functional magnetic resonance imaging studies (total N=87). Functional connectivity after placebo and THC was compared in three functional networks (salience, executive and default mode network) and a network implicated in psychosis (the hippocampus-midbrain-striatum network). COMT genotype modulation of subjective effects and connectivity was examined. RESULTS THC reduced connectivity in the salience network, specifically from the right insula to both the left insula and anterior cingulate cortex. We found a trend towards decreased connectivity in the hippocampus-midbrain-striatum network after THC. COMT genotype modulated subjective effects of THC, with strongest dysphoric reactions in Met/Met individuals. In addition, reduced connectivity after THC was demonstrated in the hippocampus-midbrain-striatum network of Met/Met individuals only. CONCLUSIONS In this large multisite study we found that THC robustly decreases connectivity in the salience network, involved in processing awareness and salient information. Connectivity changes in the hippocampus-midbrain-striatum network may reflect the acute psychotic-like effects of THC. COMT genotype modulation of THC's impact on subjective effects and functional connectivity provides further evidence for involvement of prefrontal dopamine levels in the acute effects of cannabis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Teuntje A D Pelgrim
- Department of Psychiatry, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry, Parnassia Psychiatric Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Johannes G Ramaekers
- Department of Neuropsychology & Psychopharmacology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Matthew B Wall
- Invicro London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK; Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK; Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, University College London, London, UK
| | - Tom P Freeman
- Addiction and Mental Health Group (AIM), University of Bath, Bath, UK
| | - Matthijs G Bossong
- Department of Psychiatry, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Guo H, Ye H, Li Z, Li X, Huang W, Yang Y, Xie G, Xu C, Li X, Liang W, Jing H, Zhang C, Tang C, Liang J. Amygdala signal abnormality and cognitive impairment in drug-naïve schizophrenia. BMC Psychiatry 2023; 23:231. [PMID: 37020192 PMCID: PMC10074687 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-023-04728-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recently studies had showed that the amygdala may take part in the cognitive impairment in schizophrenia (SC). However, the mechanism is still unclear, so we explored the relationship between the amygdala resting state magnetic resonance imaging (rsMRI) signal and cognitive function, to provide a reference for the follow-up study. METHODS We collected 59 drug-naïve SCs and 46 healthy controls (HCs) from the Third People's Hospital of Foshan. The rsMRI technique and automatic segmentation tool were used to extract the volume and functional indicators of the SC's amygdala. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) was used to assess the severity of the disease, and the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) was used to assess cognitive function. Pearson correlation analysis was used to compare the relationship between the structural and functional indicators of the amygdala and PANSS and RBANS. RESULTS (1) There was no significant difference between SC and HC in age, gender and years of education. Compared with HC, the PANSS score of SC increased and the RBANS score decreased significantly. Meanwhile, the left amygdala volume decreased (t=-3.675, p < 0.001), and the Fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (FALFF) values of bilateral amygdala increased (tL=3.916, p < 0.001; tR=3.131, p = 0.002). (2) The volumes of the left amygdala were negatively correlated with the PANSS score (rL=-0.243, p = 0.039). While the FALFF values of the bilateral amygdala were positively correlated with the PANSS score (rL=0.257, p = 0.026; rR=0.259, p = 0.026). Bilateral amygdala volumes and FALFF values were positively correlated (rL=0.445, p < 0.001; rR=0.326, p = 0.006) and negatively correlated with RBANS score (rL=-0.284, p = 0.014; rR=-0.272, p = 0.020), respectively. CONCLUSION The abnormal volume and function of the amygdala play important roles in the disease process of SC, and are closely related to cognitive impairment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Huagui Guo
- Department of Psychiatry, The Third People's Hospital of Foshan, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Haibiao Ye
- Department of Psychiatry, The Third People's Hospital of Foshan, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhijian Li
- Department of Psychiatry, The Third People's Hospital of Foshan, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Xuesong Li
- Department of Psychiatry, The Third People's Hospital of Foshan, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Huang
- Department of Psychiatry, The Third People's Hospital of Foshan, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu Yang
- Department of Psychiatry, The Third People's Hospital of Foshan, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Guojun Xie
- Department of Psychiatry, The Third People's Hospital of Foshan, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Caixia Xu
- Department of Psychiatry, The Third People's Hospital of Foshan, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoling Li
- Department of Psychiatry, The Third People's Hospital of Foshan, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenting Liang
- Department of Psychiatry, The Third People's Hospital of Foshan, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Huan Jing
- Department of Psychiatry, The Third People's Hospital of Foshan, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Chunguo Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, The Third People's Hospital of Foshan, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Chaohua Tang
- Department of Psychiatry, The Third People's Hospital of Foshan, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
| | - Jiaquan Liang
- Department of Psychiatry, The Third People's Hospital of Foshan, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Connectivity alterations of mesostriatal pathways in first episode psychosis. SCHIZOPHRENIA (HEIDELBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 9:15. [PMID: 36918579 PMCID: PMC10014938 DOI: 10.1038/s41537-023-00339-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS Pathogenic understanding of the psychotic disorders converges on regulation of dopaminergic signaling in mesostriatocortical pathways. Functional connectivity of the mesostriatal pathways may inform us of the neuronal networks involved. STUDY DESIGN This longitudinal study of first episode psychosis (FEP) (49 patients, 43 controls) employed seed-based functional connectivity analyses of fMRI data collected during a naturalistic movie stimulus. STUDY RESULTS We identified hypoconnectivity of the dorsal striatum with the midbrain, associated with antipsychotic medication dose in FEP, in comparison with the healthy control group. The midbrain regions that showed hypoconnectivity with the dorsal striatum also showed hypoconnectivity with cerebellar regions suggested to be involved in regulation of the mesostriatocortical dopaminergic pathways. None of the baseline hypoconnectivity detected was seen at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS These findings extend earlier resting state findings on mesostriatal connectivity in psychotic disorders and highlight the potential for cerebellar regulation of the mesostriatocortical pathways as a target of treatment trials.
Collapse
|
7
|
Sabaroedin K, Tiego J, Fornito A. Circuit-Based Approaches to Understanding Corticostriatothalamic Dysfunction Across the Psychosis Continuum. Biol Psychiatry 2023; 93:113-124. [PMID: 36253195 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2022.07.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Dopamine is known to play a role in the pathogenesis of psychotic symptoms, but the mechanisms driving dopaminergic dysfunction in psychosis remain unclear. Considerable attention has focused on the role of corticostriatothalamic (CST) circuits, given that they regulate and are modulated by the activity of dopaminergic cells in the midbrain. Preclinical studies have proposed multiple models of CST dysfunction in psychosis, each prioritizing different brain regions and pathophysiological mechanisms. A particular challenge is that CST circuits have undergone considerable evolutionary modification across mammals, complicating comparisons across species. Here, we consider preclinical models of CST dysfunction in psychosis and evaluate the degree to which they are supported by evidence from human resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging studies conducted across the psychosis continuum, ranging from subclinical schizotypy to established schizophrenia. In partial support of some preclinical models, human studies indicate that dorsal CST and hippocampal-striatal functional dysconnectivity are apparent across the psychosis spectrum and may represent a vulnerability marker for psychosis. In contrast, midbrain dysfunction may emerge when symptoms warrant clinical assistance and may thus be a trigger for illness onset. The major difference between clinical and preclinical findings is the strong involvement of the dorsal CST in the former, consistent with an increasing prominence of this circuitry in the primate brain. We close by underscoring the need for high-resolution characterization of phenotypic heterogeneity in psychosis to develop a refined understanding of how the dysfunction of specific circuit elements gives rise to distinct symptom profiles.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Sabaroedin
- Departments of Radiology and Paediatrics, Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
| | - Jeggan Tiego
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Sciences and Monash Biomedical Imaging, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Alex Fornito
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Sciences and Monash Biomedical Imaging, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Abstract
Despite strong evidence of the neurodevelopmental origins of psychosis, current pharmacological treatment is not usually initiated until after a clinical diagnosis is made, and is focussed on antagonising striatal dopamine receptors. These drugs are only partially effective, have serious side effects, fail to alleviate the negative and cognitive symptoms of the disorder, and are not useful as a preventive treatment. In recent years, attention has turned to upstream brain regions that regulate striatal dopamine function, such as the hippocampus. This review draws together these recent data to discuss why the hippocampus may be especially vulnerable in the pathophysiology of psychosis. First, we describe the neurodevelopmental trajectory of the hippocampus and its susceptibility to dysfunction, exploring this region's proneness to structural and functional imbalances, metabolic pressures, and oxidative stress. We then examine mechanisms of hippocampal dysfunction in psychosis and in individuals at high-risk for psychosis and discuss how and when hippocampal abnormalities may be targeted in these groups. We conclude with future directions for prospective studies to unlock the discovery of novel therapeutic strategies targeting hippocampal circuit imbalances to prevent or delay the onset of psychosis.
Collapse
|
9
|
Gao Y, Tong X, Hu J, Huang H, Guo T, Wang G, Li Y, Wang G. Decreased resting-state neural signal in the left angular gyrus as a potential neuroimaging biomarker of schizophrenia: An amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation and support vector machine analysis. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:949512. [PMID: 36090354 PMCID: PMC9452648 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.949512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Schizophrenia (SCH) is primarily diagnosed based on specific clinical symptoms, with the lack of any objective SCH-related biomarkers often resulting in patient misdiagnosis and the underdiagnosis of this condition. This study was developed to assess the utility of amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) values analyzed via support vector machine (SVM) methods as a means of diagnosing SCH. Methods In total, 131 SCH patients and 128 age- and gender-matched healthy control (HC) individuals underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI), with the resultant data then being analyzed using ALFF values and SVM methods. Results Relative to HC individuals, patients with SCH exhibited ALFF reductions in the left angular gyrus (AG), fusiform gyrus, anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), right cerebellum, bilateral middle temporal gyrus (MTG), and precuneus (PCu) regions. No SCH patient brain regions exhibited significant increases in ALFF relative to HC individuals. SVM results indicated that reductions in ALFF values in the bilateral PCu can be used to effectively differentiate between SCH patients and HCs with respective accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity values of 73.36, 91.60, and 54.69%. Conclusion These data indicate that SCH patients may exhibit characteristic reductions in regional brain activity, with decreased ALFF values of the bilateral PCu potentially offering value as a candidate biomarker capable of distinguishing between SCH patients and HCs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yujun Gao
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xin Tong
- School of Mental Health and Psychological Science, Anhui Medical University, Heifei, China
- Wuhan Mental Health Center, Wuhan, China
| | - Jianxiu Hu
- Wuhan Mental Health Center, Wuhan, China
| | | | - Tian Guo
- Wuhan Mental Health Center, Wuhan, China
| | - Gang Wang
- Wuhan Mental Health Center, Wuhan, China
| | - Yi Li
- Wuhan Mental Health Center, Wuhan, China
| | - Gaohua Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Su W, Zhao Z, Li G, Tang X, Xu L, Tang Y, Wei Y, Cui H, Zhang T, Zhang J, Liu X, Guo Q, Wang J. Thalamo-hippocampal dysconnectivity is associated with serum cholesterol level in drug-naïve patients with first-episode schizophrenia. J Psychiatr Res 2022; 151:497-506. [PMID: 35623125 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2021] [Revised: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Hippocampal deficits and metabolic dysregulations such as dyslipidemia have been frequently reported in schizophrenia and are suggested to contribute to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Hippocampus is particularly susceptible to environmental challenges including metabolism and inflammation. However, evidence linking hippocampal alterations and metabolic dysregulations are quite sparse in drug-naïve schizophrenia. A total of 166 drug-naïve patients with first-episode schizophrenia (FES) and 78 healthy controls (HC) underwent measures for several serum metabolic markers, structural and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI), as well as diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Seed-to-voxel functional connectivity (FC) and probabilistic tractography were performed to assess the functional and microstructural connectivity of the bilateral hippocampi. Clinical symptoms were evaluated with Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Patients with FES showed significantly decreased total cholesterol (Chol) level. Patients showed elevated FC between the left hippocampus and bilateral thalami while showing decreased microstructural connectivity between the left hippocampus and bilateral thalami. Multiple regression analyses showed that FC from the left hippocampus to the right superior frontal gyrus (SFG), bilateral frontal pole (FP), and right thalamus were negatively associated with the Chol level, while no association was observed in the HC group. Our study validated alterations in both functional and microstructural thalamo-hippocampal connectivities, and abnormal cholesterol level in FES. Moreover, decreased cholesterol level is associated with elevated thalamo-hippocampal functional connectivity in patients with FES, suggesting that dyslipidemia may interact with the hippocampal dysfunction in FES.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wenjun Su
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Zexin Zhao
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Guanjun Li
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200030, China; Department of Early Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Xiaochen Tang
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Lihua Xu
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Yingying Tang
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Yanyan Wei
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Huiru Cui
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Tianhong Zhang
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Xiaohua Liu
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200030, China; Department of Early Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200030, China.
| | - Qian Guo
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200030, China; Department of Early Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200030, China.
| | - Jijun Wang
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200030, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology (CEBSIT), Chinese Academy of Science, Shanghai, 200031, China; Institute of Psychology and Behavioral Science, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Broeders TAA, Bhogal AA, Morsinkhof LM, Schoonheim MM, Röder CH, Edens M, Klomp DWJ, Wijnen JP, Vinkers CH. Glutamate levels across deep brain structures in patients with a psychotic disorder and its relation to cognitive functioning. J Psychopharmacol 2022; 36:489-497. [PMID: 35243931 PMCID: PMC9066676 DOI: 10.1177/02698811221077199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with psychotic disorders often show prominent cognitive impairment. Glutamate seems to play a prominent role, but its role in deep gray matter (DGM) regions is unclear. AIMS To evaluate glutamate levels within deep gray matter structures in patients with a psychotic disorder in relation to cognitive functioning, using advanced spectroscopic acquisition, reconstruction, and post-processing techniques. METHODS A 7-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging scanner combined with a lipid suppression coil and subject-specific water suppression pulses was used to acquire high-resolution magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging data. Tissue fraction correction and registration to a standard brain were performed for group comparison in specifically delineated DGM regions. The brief assessment of cognition in schizophrenia was used to evaluate cognitive status. RESULTS Average glutamate levels across DGM structures (i.e. caudate, pallidum, putamen, and thalamus) in mostly medicated patients with a psychotic disorder (n = 16, age = 33, 4 females) were lower compared to healthy controls (n = 23, age = 24, 7 females; p = 0.005, d = 1.06). Stratified analyses showed lower glutamate levels in the caudate (p = 0.046, d = 0.76) and putamen p = 0.013, d = 0.94). These findings were largely explained by age differences between groups. DGM glutamate levels were positively correlated with psychomotor speed (r(30) = 0.49, p = 0.028), but not with other cognitive domains. CONCLUSIONS We find reduced glutamate levels across DGM structures including the caudate and putamen in patients with a psychotic disorder that are linked to psychomotor speed. Despite limitations concerning age differences, these results underscore the potential role of detailed in vivo glutamate assessments to understand cognitive deficits in psychotic disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tommy AA Broeders
- Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands,Department of Anatomy & Neurosciences, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands,Tommy AA Broeders, Department of Anatomy & Neurosciences, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1108, 1081 HZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Alex A Bhogal
- Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Lisan M Morsinkhof
- Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Menno M Schoonheim
- Department of Anatomy & Neurosciences, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Christian H Röder
- Department of Psychiatry, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Mirte Edens
- Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Dennis WJ Klomp
- Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jannie P Wijnen
- Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Christiaan H Vinkers
- Department of Anatomy & Neurosciences, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands,Department of Psychiatry, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands,Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam/GGZ inGeest, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Walther S, Lefebvre S, Conring F, Gangl N, Nadesalingam N, Alexaki D, Wüthrich F, Rüter M, Viher PV, Federspiel A, Wiest R, Stegmayer K. Limbic links to paranoia: increased resting-state functional connectivity between amygdala, hippocampus and orbitofrontal cortex in schizophrenia patients with paranoia. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2022; 272:1021-1032. [PMID: 34636951 PMCID: PMC9388427 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-021-01337-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Paranoia is a frequent and highly distressing experience in psychosis. Models of paranoia suggest limbic circuit pathology. Here, we tested whether resting-state functional connectivity (rs-fc) in the limbic circuit was altered in schizophrenia patients with current paranoia. We collected MRI scans in 165 subjects including 89 patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, brief psychotic disorder, schizophreniform disorder) and 76 healthy controls. Paranoia was assessed using a Positive And Negative Syndrome Scale composite score. We tested rs-fc between bilateral nucleus accumbens, hippocampus, amygdala and orbitofrontal cortex between groups and as a function of paranoia severity. Patients with paranoia had increased connectivity between hippocampus and amygdala compared to patients without paranoia. Likewise, paranoia severity was linked to increased connectivity between hippocampus and amygdala. Furthermore, paranoia was associated with increased connectivity between orbitofrontal and medial prefrontal cortex. In addition, patients with paranoia had increased functional connectivity within the frontal hubs of the default mode network compared to healthy controls. These results demonstrate that current paranoia is linked to aberrant connectivity within the core limbic circuit and prefrontal cortex reflecting amplified threat processing and impaired emotion regulation. Future studies will need to explore the association between limbic hyperactivity, paranoid ideation and perceived stress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Walther
- Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Stephanie Lefebvre
- Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Frauke Conring
- Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Nicole Gangl
- Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Niluja Nadesalingam
- Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Danai Alexaki
- Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Florian Wüthrich
- Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Maximilian Rüter
- Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Petra V. Viher
- Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Andrea Federspiel
- Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Roland Wiest
- Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Katharina Stegmayer
- Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Zhong S, Zhang L, Wang M, Shen J, Mao Y, Du X, Ma J. Abnormal resting-state functional connectivity of hippocampal subregions in children with primary nocturnal enuresis. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:966362. [PMID: 36072465 PMCID: PMC9441761 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.966362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Previous neuroimaging studies have shown abnormal brain-bladder control network in children with primary nocturnal enuresis (PNE). The hippocampus, which has long been considered to be an important nerve center for memory and emotion, has also been confirmed to be activating during micturition in several human imaging studies. However, few studies have explored hippocampus-related functional networks of PNE in children. In this study, the whole resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) of hippocampus was investigated in children with PNE. METHODS Functional magnetic resonance imaging data of 30 children with PNE and 29 matched healthy controls (HCs) were analyzed in our study. We used the seed-based RSFC method to evaluate the functional connectivity of hippocampal subregions defined according to the Human Brainnetome Atlas. Correlation analyses were also processed to investigate their relationship with disease duration time, bed-wetting frequency, and bladder volume. RESULTS Compared with HCs, children with PNE showed abnormal RSFC of the left rostral hippocampus (rHipp) with right fusiform gyrus, right Rolandic operculum, left inferior parietal lobule, and right precentral gyrus, respectively. Moreover, decreased RSFC of the left caudal hippocampus (cHipp) with right fusiform gyrus and right supplementary motor area was discovered in the PNE group. There were no significant results in the right rHipp and cHipp seeds after multiple comparison corrections. In addition, disease duration time was negatively correlated with RSFC of the left rHipp with right Rolandic operculum (r = -0.386, p = 0.035, uncorrected) and the left cHipp with right fusiform gyrus (r = -0.483, p = 0.007, uncorrected) in the PNE group, respectively. In the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis, all the above results of RSFC achieved significant performance. CONCLUSIONS To our knowledge, this is the first attempt to examine the RSFC patterns of hippocampal subregions in children with PNE. These findings indicated that children with PNE have potential dysfunctions in the limbic network, sensorimotor network, default mode network, and frontoparietal network. These networks may become less efficient with disease duration time, inducing impairments in brain-bladder control, cognition, memory, and emotion. Further prospective research with dynamic observation of brain imaging, bladder function, cognition, memory, and emotion is warranted.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shaogen Zhong
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lichi Zhang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Mengxing Wang
- College of Medical Imaging, Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiayao Shen
- Department of Nephrology, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi Mao
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoxia Du
- School of Psychology, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
| | - Jun Ma
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Saoud H, Kereselidze E, Eybrard S, Louilot A. MK-801-induced behavioral and dopaminergic responses in the shell part of the nucleus accumbens in adult male rats are disrupted after neonatal blockade of the ventral subiculum. Neurochem Int 2021; 150:105195. [PMID: 34582961 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2021.105195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2021] [Revised: 08/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The present study was conducted in the context of animal modeling of schizophrenia. It investigated in adult male rats, after transient neonatal blockade of the ventral subiculum (VSub), the impact of a very specific non-competitive antagonist of NMDA receptors (MK-801) on locomotor activity and dopaminergic (DAergic) responses in the dorsomedial shell part of the nucleus accumbens (Nacc), a striatal subregion described as the common target region for antipsychotics. The functional neonatal inactivation of the VSub was achieved by local microinjection of tetrodotoxin (TTX) at postnatal day 8 (PND8). Control pups were microinjected with the solvent phosphate buffered saline (PBS). Locomotor responses and DAergic variations in the dorsomedial shell part of the Nacc were measured simultaneously using in vivo voltammetry in awake, freely moving male animals after sc administration of MK-801. The following results were obtained: 1) a dose-dependent increase in locomotor activity in PBS and TTX animals, greater in TTX rats/PBS rats; and 2) divergent DAergic responses for PBS and TTX animals. A decrease in DA levels with a return to around basal values was observed in PBS animals. An increase in DA levels was obtained in TTX animals. The present data suggest that neonatal blockade of the VSub results in disruption in NMDA glutamatergic transmission, causing a disturbance in DA release in the dorsomedial shell in adults male rats. In the context of animal modeling of schizophrenia using the same approach it would be interesting to investigate possible changes in postsynaptic NMDA receptors-related proteins in the dorsomedial shell region in the Nacc.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hana Saoud
- University of Strasbourg, INSERM U 1114, Faculty of Medicine, FMTS, Strasbourg, France
| | - Elora Kereselidze
- University of Strasbourg, INSERM U 1114, Faculty of Medicine, FMTS, Strasbourg, France
| | - Séverine Eybrard
- University of Strasbourg, INSERM U 1114, Faculty of Medicine, FMTS, Strasbourg, France
| | - Alain Louilot
- University of Strasbourg, INSERM U 1114, Faculty of Medicine, FMTS, Strasbourg, France.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Evermann U, Gaser C, Meller T, Pfarr JK, Grezellschak S, Nenadić I. Nonclinical psychotic-like experiences and schizotypy dimensions: Associations with hippocampal subfield and amygdala volumes. Hum Brain Mapp 2021; 42:5075-5088. [PMID: 34302409 PMCID: PMC8449098 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.25601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Schizotypy and psychotic‐like experiences (PLE) form part of the wider psychosis continuum and may have brain structural correlates in nonclinical cohorts. This study aimed to compare the effects of differential schizotypy dimensions, PLE, and their interaction on hippocampal subfields and amygdala volumes in the absence of clinical psychopathology. In a cohort of 367 psychiatrically healthy individuals, we assessed schizotypal traits using the Oxford‐Liverpool Inventory of Life Experiences (O‐LIFE) and PLE using the short form of the Prodromal Questionnaire (PQ‐16). Based on high‐resolution structural MRI scans, we used automated segmentation to estimate volumes of limbic structures. Sex and total intracranial volume (Step 1), PLE and schizotypy dimensions (Step 2), and their interaction terms (Step 3) were entered as regressors for bilateral amygdala and hippocampal subfield volumes in hierarchical multiple linear regression models. Positive schizotypy, but not PLE, was negatively associated with left amygdala and subiculum volumes. O‐LIFE Impulsive Nonconformity, as well as the two‐way interaction between positive schizotypy and PLE, were associated with larger left subiculum volumes. None of the estimators for right hemispheric hippocampal subfield volumes survived correction for multiple comparisons. Our findings support differential associations of hippocampus subfield volumes with trait dimensions rather than PLE, and support overlap and interactions between psychometric positive schizotypy and PLE. In a healthy cohort without current psychosis risk syndromes, the positive association between PLE and hippocampal subfield volume occurred at a high expression of positive schizotypy. Further studies combining stable, transient, and genetic parameters are required.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ulrika Evermann
- Cognitive Neuropsychiatry Lab, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany.,Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior (CMBB), Marburg, Germany
| | - Christian Gaser
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.,Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Tina Meller
- Cognitive Neuropsychiatry Lab, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany.,Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior (CMBB), Marburg, Germany
| | - Julia-Katharina Pfarr
- Cognitive Neuropsychiatry Lab, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany.,Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior (CMBB), Marburg, Germany
| | - Sarah Grezellschak
- Cognitive Neuropsychiatry Lab, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany.,Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior (CMBB), Marburg, Germany.,Marburg University Hospital, UKGM, Marburg, Germany
| | - Igor Nenadić
- Cognitive Neuropsychiatry Lab, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany.,Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior (CMBB), Marburg, Germany.,Marburg University Hospital, UKGM, Marburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|