Abstract
IntroductionCurrent pathophysiological theories of schizophrenia highlight the role of altered brain functional and anatomical connectivity. The cognitive division of anterior cingulate cortex (ACC-cd) is a commonly reported abnormal brain region in schizophrenia for its importance in cognitive control process. The aim of this study was to investigate the functional and anatomical connectivity of ACC-cd and its cognitive and clinical manifestation significance in schizophrenia by using the resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and the diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).MethodsThirty-three medicated schizophrenics and 30 well-matched health controls were recruited. Region-of-interest (ROI)-based resting-state functional connectivity analysis and Tract-Based Spatial Statistics (TBSS) were performed on 30 patients and 30 controls, and 24 patients and 29 controls, respectively. The Pearson correlation was performed between the imaging measures and the Stroop performance and scores of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), respectively.ResultsPatients with schizophrenia showed significantly abnormal in the functional connectivity and its hemispheric asymmetry of the ACC-cd with multiple brain areas, e.g., decreased positive connectivity with the bilateral putamen and caudate, increased negative connectivity with the left posterior cingulated cortex (PCC), increased asymmetry of connectivity strength with the contralateral inferior frontal gyrus (IFG). The FA of the right anterior cingulum was significantly decreased in patients group (p = 0.014). The abnormal functional and structural connectivity of ACC-cd were correlated with Stroop performance and the severity of the symptoms in patients.ConclusionsOur results suggested that the abnormal connectivity of the ACC-cd might play a role in the cognitive impairment and clinical symptoms in schizophrenia.
Highlights
Current pathophysiological theories of schizophrenia highlight the role of altered brain functional and anatomical connectivity
fractional anisotropy (FA) is a widely used measure of fiber integrity based on diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and it is thought to reflect fiber density, axonal diameter, and myelination in white matter [17]
With the advent of the functional MRI technology, regions whose blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signal fluctuations show a high degree of temporal correlation are presumed to have functional connectivity [18]
Summary
Current pathophysiological theories of schizophrenia highlight the role of altered brain functional and anatomical connectivity. The cognitive division of anterior cingulate cortex (ACC-cd) is a commonly reported abnormal brain region in schizophrenia for its importance in cognitive control process. The aim of this study was to investigate the functional and anatomical connectivity of ACC-cd and its cognitive and clinical manifestation significance in schizophrenia by using the resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and the diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Convergent evidence has revealed alteration of ACC in cortical and white matter volume [8,9], cortical gyrus morphology [10] and activity during performing cognitive tasks [11] in patients with schizophrenia. The functional networks of ACC in healthy human brain have been mapped out in high detail by using resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) analysis [20]. One study directly examined the RSFC of ACC in schizophrenia, no abnormalities were observed in schizophrenia [24]
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