Abstract
Functional connectivity is one of the most widely used tools for investigating brain changes due to schizophrenia. Previous studies have identified abnormal functional connectivity in schizophrenia patients at the resting state brain network level. This study tests the existence of functional connectivity effects at whole brain and domain levels. Domain level refers to the integration of data from several brain networks grouped by their functional relationship. Data integration provides more consistent and accurate information compared to an individual brain network. This work considers two domain level measures: functional connectivity strength and randomness. The first measure is simply an average of connectivities within the domain. The second measure assesses the unpredictability and lack of pattern of functional connectivity within the domain. Domains with less random connectivity have higher chance of exhibiting a biologically meaningful connectivity pattern. Consistent with prior observations, individuals with schizophrenia showed aberrant domain connectivity strength between subcortical, cerebellar, and sensorial brain areas. Compared to healthy volunteers, functional connectivity between cognitive and default mode domains showed less randomness, while connectivity between default mode-sensorial areas showed more randomness in schizophrenia patients. These differences in connectivity patterns suggest deleterious rewiring trade-offs among important brain networks.
Highlights
The disconnection hypothesis [1] is an important landmark in understanding the underpinnings of schizophrenia
We examined randomness at the domain connectivity level seeking for differences between individuals with schizophrenia and controls
Analyzing functional connectivity using a domain framework confirmed several effects observed in schizophrenia and identified previously unobserved effects
Summary
The disconnection hypothesis [1] is an important landmark in understanding the underpinnings of schizophrenia. It proposed that the brain disconnections in schizophrenia are more of a functional nature rather than anatomical. Later studies provided validation for the existence of disconnections in the brain of schizophrenia patients [2,3,4]. Functional connectivity studies using resting state data have provided important insights into aberrant functional connectivity patterns of specific brain areas/ networks in schizophrenia compared to healthy controls [5]. Graph measures have been an important tool in revealing aberrant patterns of functional connectivity involving nodes distributed throughout the brain [6, 7]. More research is needed to relate abnormalities occurring in small specific brain areas/ networks with those observed in whole brain analyses
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
