Impaired prefrontal-basal ganglia functional connectivity and substantia nigra hyperactivity in schizophrenia.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The theory that prefrontal cortex (PFC) dysfunction in schizophrenia leads to excess subcortical dopamine has generated widespread interest because it provides a parsimonious account for two core features of schizophrenia, cognitive deficits and psychosis, respectively. However, there has been limited empirical validation of this model. Moreover, the identity of the specific subcortical brain regions and circuits that may be impaired as a result of PFC dysfunction and mediate its link to psychosis in schizophrenia remains unclear. We undertook this event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging study to test the hypothesis that PFC dysfunction is associated with altered function of and connectivity with dopamine regulating regions of the basal ganglia.

Methods

SUBMITTER: Yoon JH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3620727 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature