Abnormal auditory tonotopy in patients with schizophrenia

Gaelle E Doucet,Maxwell J Luber,Priti Balchandani,Iris E Sommer,Sophia Frangou

doi:10.1038/s41537-019-0084-x

Gaelle E Doucet, Maxwell J Luber + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41537-019-0084-x

Copy DOI

Abstract

Auditory hallucinations are among the most prevalent and most distressing symptoms of schizophrenia. Despite significant progress, it is still unclear whether auditory hallucinations arise from abnormalities in primary sensory processing or whether they represent failures of higher-order functions. To address this knowledge gap, we capitalized on the increased spatial resolution afforded by ultra-high field imaging at 7 Tesla to investigate the tonotopic organization of the auditory cortex in patients with schizophrenia with a history of recurrent hallucinations. Tonotopy is a fundamental feature of the functional organization of the auditory cortex that is established very early in development and predates the onset of symptoms by decades. Compared to healthy participants, patients showed abnormally increased activation and altered tonotopic organization of the auditory cortex during a purely perceptual task, which involved passive listening to tones across a range of frequencies (88–8000 Hz). These findings suggest that the predisposition to auditory hallucinations is likely to be predicated on abnormalities in the functional organization of the auditory cortex and which may serve as a biomarker for the early identification of vulnerable individuals.

Highlights

Auditory hallucinations are sensory experiences of sound in the absence of a corresponding external source
Task-related activation was noted bilaterally in the Heschl’s gyrus (HG) and planum temporale (PT) within the superior temporal gyrus (STG) (Fig. 1a) which was consistent with previously reported tonotopic maps (Supplementary Fig. 1)
We capitalized on the increased resolution and contrast of ultrahigh field imaging to conduct the first investigation of the tonotopic organization of the auditory cortex in patients with schizophrenia with a history of auditory hallucinations

Summary

Introduction

Auditory hallucinations are sensory experiences of sound in the absence of a corresponding external source. They are common in neuropsychiatric disorders, and in schizophrenia, where they afflict more than 80% of patients.[1] Auditory hallucinations are typically distressing and increase the risk of suicidal and aggressive behavior.[2] they are treatmentresistance in 10% of first-episode patients and this proportion increases to 30% over follow-up periods of up to 10 years.[3,4]. The primary and association auditory cortices are respectively located in the Heschl’s gyrus (HG) and the planum temporale (PT),[16] both of which are sub-regions of the superior temporal gyrus (STG)

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion