Dataset Information

The representation of mental state information in schizophrenia and first-degree relatives: a multivariate pattern analysis of fMRI data.

ABSTRACT: Individuals with a schizophrenia-spectrum disorder (SSD) and those at familial high risk (FHR) for SSDs experience social difficulties that are related to neural abnormalities in the network of brain regions recruited during theory of mind (ToM). Prior work with these groups has focused almost exclusively on characterizing the involvement of these regions in ToM. Here, we examine the representational content of these regions using multivariate pattern analysis. We analyzed two previously collected datasets of SSD, FHR and control participants who, while undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging, completed the false-belief task in which they read stories describing beliefs or physical representations (e.g. photographs). Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed in regions of interest to evaluate group differences in task-based activation and representational content, respectively. Compared to non-SSDs, SSDs showed reduced decoding accuracy for the category of mental states in the right temporo-parietal junction-which was related to false-belief accuracy-and the dorsal medial prefrontal cortex (DMPFC) and reduced involvement of DMPFC for mental state understanding. FHR showed no differences in decoding accuracy or involvement compared to non-FHR. Given prior studies of disrupted neural involvement in FHR and the lack of decoding differences observed here, the onset of illness may involve processes that corrupt how mental state information is represented.

SUBMITTER: Dodell-Feder D

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8138087 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Similar Datasets

Project description:Meehl conceptualized schizotypy as the phenotypic manifestations of a neural integrative defect resulting from a schizophrenia diathesis. The majority of schizotypy studies recruited subjects from the general population and revealed a multidimensional construct. This 2-phase investigation first examined the clustering of schizotypy in 194 unaffected relatives of schizophrenia patients using the Chapman Psychosis Proneness scales and then directly compared the cognitive profiles of negative schizotypal individuals and positive schizotypal individuals with schizophrenia patients and controls. In the first phase, cluster analysis categorized 194 unaffected relatives of schizophrenia patients into positive schizotypy (n = 33), negative schizotypy (n = 66), mixed schizotypy (n = 27), and low schizotypy (n = 64). Positive schizotypal participants showed more self-report pleasure experiences than negative schizotypal participants, replicating earlier cluster analytic findings. In the second phase, 27 negative schizotypal individuals, 18 positive schizotypal individuals, 19 schizophrenia patients, and 29 controls were recruited. Although the groups were matched in terms of age, gender, and IQ, they differed significantly in cognitive profiles. While schizophrenia patients exhibited the broadest cognitive impairments, negative schizotypal participants exhibited visual memory, working memory, and verbal fluency impairments, and positive schizotypal participants exhibited logical memory, visual memory, working memory, and theory-of-mind impairments. Among people with familial risk of schizophrenia, individuals exhibiting positive rather than negative schizotypal features resembled schizophrenia patients in cognitive profiles. Using the psychometric-familial method to identify schizotypy, our findings support the heterogeneity of schizotypy as well as the potential utility of the positive schizotypy dimension in genetically high-risk individuals to predict the risk of developing schizophrenia.

Dataset Information

The representation of mental state information in schizophrenia and first-degree relatives: a multivariate pattern analysis of fMRI data.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets