Abstract
BackgroundTranscranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive neuromodulation technique which uses a weak electric current from electrodes across the scalp to modulate targeted brain areas. It has been suggested that tDCS may be useful in reducing psychotic symptoms such as auditory hallucination. The aim of this study was to find alteration of key neurotransmitters in schizophrenia in temporo-parietal area (TPA) after tDCS intervention, using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) technique.MethodsTen schizophrenia patients with auditory hallucination were recruited from the outpatient clinic of Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH). The anode was placed over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), and the cathode was placed over the left TPA. Patients underwent MRS scan with the very short echo time phase rotation STEAM sequence before and after the tDCS sessions, respectively.ResultsSeven of the participants completed MRS scans before and after the tDCS sessions. Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS) total and general psychophathology scale showed a significant improvement after tDCS. There was no significant difference between glutamate/creatinine (Cr) level before and after tDCS sessions. However, a significant positive correlation between the pre-tDCS glutamate/Cr value in left TPA and the improvement in auditory hallucination measured by Auditory Hallucination Rating Scale (AHRS) after tDCS was found.DiscussionThe results of this investigation show that the schizophrenia patients whose auditory hallucination benefits the most from tDCS treatment had lower glutamate/Cr level in left TPA. Previous studies regarding the relationship between glutamatergic system and treatment response mostly have only focused on the frontal area and striatum. However, this study suggests a potential role of glutamatergic system in TPA in predicting treatment response of auditory hallucination.
Highlights
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation is a non-invasive neuromodulation technique which uses a weak electric current from electrodes across the scalp to modulate targeted brain areas
Ten schizophrenia patients with auditory hallucination were recruited from the outpatient clinic of Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH)
The anode was placed over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), and the cathode was placed over the left temporo-parietal area (TPA)
Summary
We found no significant differences in vertex-wise gyrification between CHR and HC at either corrected or uncorrected levels (p>0.05). Discussion: Our preliminary findings suggest that CHR subjects do not show whole-brain gyrification abnormalities when compared with healthy subjects. These negative results agree with literature suggesting that cortical convolution might be more affected by neurodevelopmental or genetic factors, and deviations from normal patterns might not be detectable in heterogeneous samples of at-risk subjects wherein the etiology and ultimate prognosis is unknown. In order to better investigate differences in cortical folding and address the role of gyrification as neuroanatomical biomarker for psychosis, future investigations should focus on subgroups within CHR populations (e.g. patients groups defined by basic symptoms, ultra-high risk, or familial risk) in addition to specific analyses of individuals with higher neurodevelopmental (e.g., obstetric complications) or genetic (e.g., polygenic risk) loadings. Junhee Lee*,1, Youngwoo Yoon, Andrea Wijtenburg, Laura Rowland, In Chan Song, Kang Ik Cho, Minah Kim, Tae Young Lee, Jun Soo Kwon4 1Seoul National University Hospital; 2Institute of Human Behavioral Medicine, SNU-MRC; 3Maryland Psychiatric Research Center; 4Seoul National University College of Medicine
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