Altered cortical structures and tract integrity of the mirror neuron system in association with symptoms of schizophrenia

Chieh En Jane Tseng, Yi Ling Chien, Chih Min Liu, Hsiao Lan Sharon Wang, Hai Gwo Hwu*, Wen Yih Isaac Tseng

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The mirror neuron system (MNS) may be implicated in schizophrenia. This study investigated MNS structures, including the pars opercularis (Pop), the supramarginal gyrus (SMg), the third branch of the superior longitudinal fasciculus, and callosal fibers interconnecting bilateral Pop (CC-Pop) and SMg (CC-SMg), and clarified their relationships with positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Participants comprised 32 schizophrenia patients and 32 matched controls who received T1-weighted structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI, T1WI) and diffusion spectrum imaging (DSI). The cortical measures were computed from the T1WI data. Tract integrity was assessed using a tractography-based analysis of the generalized fractional anisotropy (GFA) derived from the DSI data. Pearson[U+05F3]s correlations and multiple linear regression analysis were used to investigate the associations between MNS structures and positive and negative symptom scores of schizophrenia. Cortical thickness in bilateral Pop and SMg were significantly thinner and mean GFA of CC-Pop was significantly decreased in patients. Negative symptoms were significantly correlated with left SMg volume, and positive symptoms were significantly correlated with right SMg thickness. Multiple linear regression analysis showed left SMg volume to be the strongest contributor to the negative symptoms. The association between left SMg volume and negative symptoms may reflect the degree of social cognition impairment in schizophrenia.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)286-291
Number of pages6
JournalPsychiatry Research - Neuroimaging
Volume231
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2015 Mar 30
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Cortical volume
  • Diffusion spectrum imaging
  • Mirror neuron system
  • Schizophrenia
  • Supramarginal gyrus
  • Tractography

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neuroscience (miscellaneous)
  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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