Dataset Information

Disrupted modulation of thalamus activation and thalamocortical connectivity during dual task performance in schizophrenia.

ABSTRACT: Despite considerable evidence showing thalamus anatomy and connectivity abnormalities in schizophrenia, how these abnormalities are reflected in thalamus function during cognition is relatively understudied. Modulation of thalamic connectivity with the prefrontal cortex (PFC) is required for higher-order cognitive processes, which are often impaired in schizophrenia. To address this gap, we investigated how thalamus function and thalamus-PFC connectivity under different levels of cognitive demand may be disrupted in schizophrenia. Participants underwent fMRI scanning while performing an event-related two-alternative forced choice task under Single and Dual task conditions. In the Single task condition, participants responded either to a visual cue with a well-learned motor response, or an audio cue with a well-learned vocal response. In the Dual task condition, participants performed both tasks. Thalamic connectivity with task relevant regions of the PFC for each condition was measured using beta-series correlation. Individuals with schizophrenia demonstrated less modulation of both mediodorsal thalamus activation and thalamus-PFC connectivity with increased cognitive demand. In contrast, their ability to modulate PFC function during task performance was maintained. These results suggest that the pathophysiology of cognitive impairment in schizophrenia is associated with thalamus-PFC circuitry and suggests that the thalamus, along with the PFC, should be a focus of investigation.

SUBMITTER: Huang AS

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6612476 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Disrupted modulation of thalamus activation and thalamocortical connectivity during dual task performance in schizophrenia.

Huang Anna S AS Rogers Baxter P BP Woodward Neil D ND

Schizophrenia research 20190107

Despite considerable evidence showing thalamus anatomy and connectivity abnormalities in schizophrenia, how these abnormalities are reflected in thalamus function during cognition is relatively understudied. Modulation of thalamic connectivity with the prefrontal cortex (PFC) is required for higher-order cognitive processes, which are often impaired in schizophrenia. To address this gap, we investigated how thalamus function and thalamus-PFC connectivity under different levels of cognitive deman ...[more]

PMID: 30630706

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Project description:ObjectiveWorking memory (WM) deficits are consistently reported in schizophrenia and are related to poor functional outcomes. Functional magnetic resonance imaging studies of adult-onset schizophrenia have reported decreased functional activations and connectivity in the WM network, but no prior functional magnetic resonance imaging study has examined WM in childhood-onset schizophrenia (COS). The aim of this study was to examine the neural correlates of WM in COS.MethodAdult patients with COS (n = 32, 21.3 ± 1.1 years), nonpsychotic siblings of patients with COS (n = 30, 19.4 ± 0.8 years), and healthy controls (n = 39, 20.0 ± 0.7 years) completed 1- and 2-back WM tasks during 3-T functional magnetic resonance imaging. Functional activation and connectivity analyses were conducted. A separate group of 23 younger patients with COS (17.9 ± 7.4 years) could not perform the tasks after twice completing a standard training and are not included in this report.ResultsPatients with COS who were included scored significantly lower than controls on all tasks (p < .001). Patients with COS showed significantly lower activations in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortices, posterior parietal cortices, cerebellum, and caudate and decreased frontoparietal and corticostriatal functional connectivity compared with controls (p < .05, corrected). Siblings had functional activations and connectivity intermediate between those of patients and controls in a similar set of regions (p < .05, corrected). In patients, functional connectivity strength in the left frontoparietal network correlated positively with accuracy scores during the 1-back task (p = .0023, corrected).ConclusionDecreased functional activation and connectivity in the WM network in COS supports pathophysiologic continuity with adult-onset schizophrenia. The low participation rate and accuracy of the patients highlights the disease severity of COS. Hypo-activations and hypo-connectivity were shared by siblings of patients with COS, suggesting COS as a potential endophenotype.Clinical trial registration informationEvaluating Genetic Risk Factors for Childhood-Onset Schizophrenia; http://ClinicalTrials.gov;NCT00001198.

Dataset Information

Disrupted modulation of thalamus activation and thalamocortical connectivity during dual task performance in schizophrenia.

Publications

Disrupted modulation of thalamus activation and thalamocortical connectivity during dual task performance in schizophrenia.

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