Sensorimotor cortex and supplementary motor area changes in schizophrenia. A study with functional magnetic resonance imaging.
BACKGROUND
Neurological soft signs (NSS) such as a disturbed finger-to-thumb opposition are frequently found in schizophrenia. To identify the underlying cerebral changes we investigated sensorimotor cortex and supplementary motor area (SMA) activation during finger-to-thumb opposition using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).


METHODS
Ten DSM-III-R schizophrenics and seven healthy controls were included. All subjects were right-handed. fMRI was carried out in a resting condition followed by an activation state (finger-to-thumb opposition) and the activities in the sensorimotor cortices and SMA recorded.


RESULTS
All subjects showed a significant activation of the SMA and both ipsilateral and contralateral sensorimotor cortices. In the controls, ipsilateral finger-to-thumb opposition was associated with a greater left than right hemispheric sensorimotor cortex coactivation. When compared with the healthy controls, the schizophrenic patients showed a decreased activation of both sensorimotor cortices and SMA, as well as a reversed lateralisation effect.


CONCLUSIONS
Sensorimotor cortex and SMA dysfunction are associated with motor disturbances in schizophrenia.
Schröder
J
J
Department of Psychiatry, University of Heidelberg, Germany.
Wenz
F
F
Schad
L R
LR
Baudendistel
K
K
Knopp
M V
MV
D000328:Adult; D004292:Dominance, Cerebral / Q000502:physiology; D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology; D019965:Neurocognitive Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012016:Reference Values; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D013003:Somatosensory Cortex / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*