Reduced gray matter volume of left superior temporal gyrus in schizophrenia with auditory verbal hallucinations: a voxel-based morphometry study

Huawang Wu,Xiaoyin Ke,Fengchun Wu,Ripeng Li,Yuping Ning,Xiaobing Lu,J.Q Cheng,Z.T Chi,H.L Moffitt,I Kim,J Zhang

doi:10.1051/bioconf/20170801031

Abstract

Auditory verbal hallucinations (AVHs) which are the core psychopathology symptoms in schizophrenia patients cause amounts of distress, functional disability and behavioral dys-control. However, the neural mechanism with the onset of AVHs in schizophrenia remains unclear. In the present study, we recruited 30 schizophrenia patients with AVHs, 20 schizophrenia patients with non-AVHs (nAVHs), and 50 healthy controls. Structure magnetic resonance imaging was obtained, and voxel-based morphometry (VBM) was used to analyse the gray matter volume (GMV) in the three groups. We found that the GMV of anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), left superior temporal gyrus (STG), and left middle temporal gyrus (MTG) significantly decreased in schizophrenia patients compared to healthy controls. In addition, the left STG with significantly decreased volume was found in nAVHs compared to AVHs, but no significant changes of GMV in ACC and left MTG were found between AVHs and nAVHs. Our current study identified the abnormal GMV of the left STG in schizophrenia patients with AVHs. Our findings further supported the view that, whilst mild reduced GMV of the left STG might still enable the emergence of AVHs, more severe alterations may prevent the occurrence of AVHs experience.

Highlights

Auditory verbal hallucinations (AVHs) were typically defined as hearing a voice or other sound in the absence of an external stimulus
A main effect of group was observed in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), the left superior temporal gyrus (STG) and the left middle temporal gyrus (MTG)
No significant differences of gray matter volume (GMV) in ACC and left MTG was found between AVHs and nAVHs groups

Summary

Introduction

Auditory verbal hallucinations (AVHs) were typically defined as hearing a voice or other sound in the absence of an external stimulus. Matter volume (GMV) reductions in left superior temporal gyrus (STG) but without significance changed of GMV between AVHs and nAVHs group[4]. Another study showed that the volume of the putamen was lower in AVHs compared to nAVHs and no other brain regions with significantly changed GMV were found between the two groups [5]. A recent study of AVHs found that decreased bilateral thalamic GMV was associated with the severity of AVHs [6]. These findings indicated that the neuroanatomical mechanism of AVHs remains controversial

Methods

Results

Conclusion