Association between functional and structural connectivity of the corticostriatal network in people with schizophrenia and unaffected first-degree relatives.

Abstract

Background:

Dysfunction of the corticostriatal network has been implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia, but findings are inconsistent within and across imaging modalities. We used multimodal neuroimaging to analyze functional and structural connectivity in the corticostriatal network in people with schizophrenia and unaffected first-degree relatives.

Methods:

We collected resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion tensor imaging scans from people with schizophrenia (n = 47), relatives (n = 30) and controls (n = 49). We compared seed-based functional and structural connectivity across groups within striatal subdivisions defined a priori.

Results:

Compared with controls, people with schizophrenia had altered connectivity between the subdivisions and brain regions in the frontal and temporal cortices and thalamus; relatives showed different connectivity between the subdivisions and the right anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and the left precuneus. Post-hoc t tests revealed that people with schizophrenia had decreased functional connectivity in the ventral loop (ventral striatum-right ACC) and dorsal loop (executive striatum-right ACC and sensorimotor striatum-right ACC), accompanied by decreased structural connectivity; relatives had reduced functional connectivity in the ventral loop and the dorsal loop (right executive striatum-right ACC) and no significant difference in structural connectivity compared with the other groups. Functional connectivity among people with schizophrenia in the bilateral ventral striatum-right ACC was correlated with positive symptom severity.

Limitations:

The number of relatives included was moderate. Striatal subdivisions were defined based on a relatively low threshold, and structural connectivity was measured based on fractional anisotropy alone.

Conclusion:

Our findings provide insight into the role of hypoconnectivity of the ventral corticostriatal system in people with schizophrenia.

• Authors: Peng Li, Ri-Xing Jing, Rong-Jiang Zhao, Le Shi, Hong-Qiang Sun, Zengbo Ding, Xiao Lin, Lin Lu, Yong Fan
• Journal: Journal of psychiatry & neuroscience : JPN (J Psychiatry Neurosci) Vol. 45 Issue 6 Pg. 395-405 (11 01 2020) ISSN: 1488-2434 [Electronic] Canada
• PMID: 32436671 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2020 Joule Inc. or its licensors.

Topics

• Adult
• Cerebral Cortex (diagnostic imaging, pathology, physiopathology)
• Connectome
• Corpus Striatum (diagnostic imaging, pathology, physiopathology)
• Diffusion Tensor Imaging
• Family
• Female
• Gyrus Cinguli (diagnostic imaging, pathology, physiopathology)
• Humans
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Male
• Nerve Net (diagnostic imaging, pathology, physiopathology)
• Schizophrenia (diagnostic imaging, pathology, physiopathology)
• Ventral Striatum (diagnostic imaging, pathology, physiopathology)
• Young Adult