Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, People's Republic of China.
Brain Function Research Section, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, People's Republic of China.
Hum Brain Mapp. 2019 May;40(7):2200-2211. doi: 10.1002/hbm.24518. Epub 2019 Jan 15.
Schizophrenia (SZ) is a highly heritable disease with neurodevelopmental origins and significant functional brain network dysfunction. Functional network is heavily influenced by neurodevelopment processes and can be characterized by the degree of segregation and integration. This study examines functional segregation and integration in SZ and their first-degree relatives (high risk [HR]) to better understand the dynamic changes in vulnerability and resiliency, and disease markers. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data acquired from 137 SZ, 89 HR, and 210 healthy controls (HCs). Small-worldness σ was computed at voxel level to quantify balance between segregation and integration. Interregional functional associations were examined based on Euclidean distance between regions and reflect degree of segregation and integration. Distance strength maps were used to localize regions of altered distance-based functional connectivity. σ was significantly decreased in SZ compared to HC, with no differences in high risk (HR). In three-group comparison, significant differences were noted in short-range connectivity (primarily in the primary sensory, motor and their association cortices, and the thalamus) and medium/long-range connectivity (in the prefrontal cortices [PFCs]). Decreased short- and increased medium/long-range connectivity was found in SZ. Decreased short-range connectivity was seen in SZ and HR, while HR had decreased medium/long-range connectivity. We observed disrupted balance between segregation and integration in SZ, whereas relatively preserved in HR. Similarities and differences between SZ and HR, specific changes of SZ were found. These might reflect dynamic changes of segregation in primary cortices and integration in PFCs in vulnerability and resilience, and disease markers in SZ.
精神分裂症（SZ）是一种具有高度遗传性的疾病，具有神经发育起源和显著的功能性大脑网络功能障碍。功能网络受到神经发育过程的强烈影响，可以通过分离和整合的程度来表征。本研究通过对 137 名 SZ、89 名高风险（HR）和 210 名健康对照（HC）的静息态功能磁共振成像（rs-fMRI）数据进行分析，研究了 SZ 及其一级亲属（HR）的功能分离和整合，以更好地理解易感性和弹性以及疾病标志物的动态变化。在体素水平计算小世界 σ 来量化分离和整合之间的平衡。根据区域之间的欧几里得距离来检查区域间的功能关联，反映分离和整合的程度。使用距离强度图来定位基于距离的功能连接改变的区域。与 HC 相比，SZ 的 σ 值显著降低，而 HR 则没有差异。在三组比较中，发现短程连接（主要在初级感觉、运动及其联合皮层和丘脑）和中/长程连接（在额前皮质）存在显著差异。SZ 中发现短程和中/长程连接减少。SZ 和 HR 中观察到短程连接减少，而 HR 中观察到中/长程连接减少。我们观察到 SZ 中分离和整合之间的平衡被破坏，而 HR 中相对保留。在 SZ 和 HR 之间发现了相似性和差异，以及 SZ 的特定变化。这些可能反映了易感性和弹性以及 SZ 中疾病标志物的初级皮层分离和 PFC 整合的动态变化。
