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Altered functional synchrony between gray and white matter as a novel indicator of brain system dysconnectivity in schizophrenia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 January 2021

Naici Liu ,
Rebekka Lencer ,
Zhipeng Yang ,
Wenjing Zhang ,
Chengmin Yang ,
Jiaxin Zeng ,
John A. Sweeney ,
Qiyong Gong  and
Su Lui Open the ORCID record for Su Lui [Opens in a new window]
Naici Liu
Affiliation:
Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
Rebekka Lencer
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
Zhipeng Yang
Affiliation:
College of Electronic Engineering, Chengdu University of Information Technology, Chengdu, PR, China
Wenjing Zhang
Affiliation:
Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
Chengmin Yang
Affiliation:
Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
Jiaxin Zeng
Affiliation:
Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
John A. Sweeney
Affiliation:
Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
Qiyong Gong*
Affiliation:
Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
Su Lui*
Affiliation:
Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
*
Author for correspondence: Su Lui, E-mail: lusuwcums@hotmail.com; Qiyong Gong, E-mail: qygong05@126.com
Author for correspondence: Su Lui, E-mail: lusuwcums@hotmail.com; Qiyong Gong, E-mail: qygong05@126.com
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Abstract

Background

There is increasing evidence that blood oxygenation level-dependent signaling in white matter (WM) reflects WM functional activity. Whether this activity is altered in schizophrenia remains uncertain, as does whether it is related to established alterations of gray matter (GM) or the microstructure of WM tracts.

Methods

A total of 153 antipsychotic-naïve schizophrenia patients and 153 healthy comparison subjects were assessed by resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging, diffusion tensor imaging, and high-resolution T1-weighted imaging. We tested for case–control differences in the functional activity of WM, and examined their relation to the functional activity of GM and WM microstructure. The relations between fractional anisotropy (FA) in WM and GM–WM functional synchrony were investigated as well. Then, we examined the associations of identified abnormalities to age, duration of untreated psychosis (DUP), and symptom severity.

Results

Schizophrenia patients displayed reductions of the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF), GM–WM functional synchrony, and FA in widespread regions. Specifically, the genu of corpus callosum not only had weakening in the synchrony of functional activity but also had reduced ALFF and FA. Positive associations were found between FA and functional synchrony in the genu of corpus callosum as well. No significant association was found between identified abnormalities and DUP, and symptom severity.

Conclusions

The widespread weakening in the synchrony of functional activity of GM and WM provided novel evidence for functional alterations in schizophrenia. Regarding the WM function as a component of brain systems and investigating its alternation represent a promising direction for future research.

Keywords

Dysconnectivityfunctional activityfunctional MRIgray matterschizophreniawhite matter
Type
Original Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 52 , Issue 13 , October 2022 , pp. 2540 - 2548
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Copyright
Copyright © West China Hospital of Sichuan University, 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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Footnotes

*

Dr Liu, Dr Lencer, and Dr Yang contributed equally to the study.

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