A multimodal neuroimaging study investigating resting-state connectivity, glutamate and GABA at 7 T in first-episode psychosis

Gregory Overbeek; Timothy J. Gawne; Meredith A. Reid; Nina V. Kraguljac; Adrienne C. Lahti

doi:10.1503/jpn.210107

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Figure 1
Connectivity of the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex. (A) Connectivity patterns in healthy controls. Positive connectivity is depicted with a red colour scale, and negative connectivity is depicted with a blue colour scale. (B) Connectivity patterns in patients with first-episode psychosis. Positive connectivity is depicted with a red colour scale, and negative connectivity is depicted with a blue colour scale. (C) Significant group differences in brain connectivity patterns in the anterior cingulate cortex. Greater connectivity in patients versus controls is depicted with a red colour scale, and greater connectivity in controls versus patients is depicted with a blue colour scale. dlPFC = dorsolateral prefrontal cortex; PFC = prefrontal cortex.
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Figure 2
Group differences in the relationship between glutamate levels and dorsal ACC connectivity. (A) Significant group differences in brain connectivity patterns in the ACC. Greater connectivity in patients versus controls is depicted with a red colour scale, and greater connectivity in controls versus patients is depicted with a blue colour scale. (B) Scatterplot of ACC–orbital PFC functional connectivity versus ACC glutamate for individual healthy controls (white circles) and patients with first-episode psychosis (black circles). (C) Scatterplot of ACC–supramarginal gyrus functional connectivity versus ACC glutamate for individual healthy controls (white circles) and patients with first-episode psychosis (black circles). ACC = anterior cingulate cortex; PFC = prefrontal cortex.
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Figure 3
Group differences in the relationship between GABA levels and dorsal ACC connectivity. (A) Significant group differences in ACC brain connectivity patterns. Greater connectivity in controls versus patients is depicted with a blue colour scale. (B) Scatterplot of ACC–caudate functional connectivity versus ACC GABA for individual healthy controls (white circles) and patients with first-episode psychosis (black circles). ACC = anterior cingulate cortex; GABA = γ-aminobutyric acid.

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Table 1

Participant demographic characteristics

Measure^*	Healthy controls n = 21	Patients with first-episode psychosis n = 19	Statistic	p value
Age, yr	23.4 ± 4.4	22.9 ± 4.4	t₃₈ = 0.38	0.71
Female/male	5/16	4/15	χ²₁ = 0.04	0.83
Smoker, yes/no	0/21	4/15	χ²₁ = 4.91	0.027^¶
Parental socioeconomic status^†	3.4 ± 3.3	4.6 ± 4.5	t₃₇ = 0.99	0.33
RBANS score^‡	95.1 ± 8.5	75.0 ± 15.6	t₃₃ = 4.84	< 0.001^¶
Treatment duration, d	—	358 ± 470	—	—
BPRS rating^§
Total	20.8 ± 1.1	30.4 ± 8.4	t₃₃ = 4.79	< 0.001^¶
Positive	3.0 ± 0.2	4.8 ± 2.7	t₃₃ = 2.65	0.012^¶
Negative	3.0 ± 2.4	5.6 ± 2.3	t₃₃ = 4.72	< 0.001^¶

BPRS = Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale; RBANS = Repeatable Battery for Assessment of Neuropsychological Status.
↵* Values are presented as mean ± standard deviation or n.
↵† Not available for 1 patient with first-episode psychosis. Ranks determined from the Diagnostic Interview for Genetic Studies (scale of 1–18); higher rank (lower numerical value) corresponds with higher socioeconomic status.
↵‡ Not available for 1 healthy control and 3 patients with first-episode psychosis.
↵§ Not available for 2 healthy controls and 2 patients with first-episode psychosis. Positive subscale: conceptual disorganization, hallucinatory behaviour and unusual thought content. Negative subscale: emotional withdrawal, motor retardation and blunted affect.
↵¶ Significant at p < 0.05.