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Structural connectivity of the salience-executive loop in schizophrenia

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Abstract

Previously, differences have been shown in effective connectivity of the salience network between healthy controls and patients with schizophrenia. Specifically, the right anterior insula (rAI) fails to modulate the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). In 35 controls and 31 patients with schizophrenia, we extended these findings by investigating the white matter connectivity of this pathway using tractography, and its relationship with the disrupted effective connectivity. We showed increased fractional anisotropy in the pathway connecting the rAI with the DLPFC, which related to reduced effective connectivity. This may be due to either secondary changes in white matter or a primary defect in structural integrity resulting from deficient axonal pruning. This novel finding warrants further investigation of white matter connectivity in schizophrenia and the mechanisms underlying this pathophysiology.

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Fig. 1

Abbreviations

AD:

Axial diffusion

CES:

Central executive system

DLPFC:

Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex

FA:

Fractional anisotropy

FLIRT:

FMRIB Linear Image Registration Tool

FNIRT:

FMRIB NonLinear Image Registration Tool

IFOF:

Inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus

rAI:

Right anterior insula

RD:

Radial diffusion

MNI:

Montreal Neurological Institute

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Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge the assistance provided by Sir Peter Mansfield MRI Centre (Prof. Gowland and Francis) and the assistance provided by Drs. Balain, Simmonite, White, Jansen, Oowise and Dangi.

Conflict of interest

None.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Translational Neuroimaging, Division of Psychiatry and Applied Psychology, Institute of Mental Health, University of Nottingham, Room-09 C Floor, Triumph Road, Nottingham, NG7 2TU, UK

    Sarina J. Iwabuchi, Peter F. Liddle & Lena Palaniyappan

  2. Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK

    Lena Palaniyappan

Authors
  1. Sarina J. Iwabuchi
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  2. Peter F. Liddle
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  3. Lena Palaniyappan
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Correspondence to Lena Palaniyappan.

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Iwabuchi, S.J., Liddle, P.F. & Palaniyappan, L. Structural connectivity of the salience-executive loop in schizophrenia. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 265, 163–166 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-014-0547-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-014-0547-z

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