Prefrontal-Thalamic Anatomical Connectivity and Executive Cognitive Function in Schizophrenia.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Executive cognitive functions, including working memory, cognitive flexibility, and inhibition, are impaired in schizophrenia. Executive functions rely on coordinated information processing between the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and thalamus, particularly the mediodorsal nucleus. This raises the possibility that anatomical connectivity between the PFC and mediodorsal thalamus may be 1) reduced in schizophrenia and 2) related to deficits in executive function. The current investigation tested these hypotheses. METHODS:Forty-five healthy subjects and 62 patients with a schizophrenia spectrum disorder completed a battery of tests of executive function and underwent diffusion-weighted imaging. Probabilistic tractography was used to quantify anatomical connectivity between six cortical

SUBMITTER: Giraldo-Chica M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5809301 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature