title: Working memory deficits and levels of N-acetylaspartate in patients with schizophreniform disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The authors used proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging ((1)H-MRSI) to assess potential reductions of N-acetylaspartate (a marker of neuronal integrity) in the hippocampal area and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex of patients with schizophreniform disorder. In addition, they assessed the relationship between N-acetylaspartate levels and working memory deficits.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four patients with DSM-IV schizophreniform disorder and 24 healthy subjects were studied. Subjects underwent (1)H-MRSI and were given the N-back working memory test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The schizophreniform disorder patients had selective reductions of N-acetylaspartate ratios in the hippocampal area and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, and a positive correlation was seen between N-acetylaspartate ratios in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and performance during the 2-back working memory condition.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Similar to findings reported in schizophrenia studies, N-acetylaspartate reductions in the hippocampal area and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex were seen in patients with schizophreniform disorder. Moreover, the results support other evidence that neuronal pathology in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex accounts for a proportion of working memory deficits already present at illness outset.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Neurological Sciences, University of Bari, Italy. bertolia@psichiat.uniba.it
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bertolino
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sciota
authors.forename: Flora
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Brudaglio
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Altamura
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Blasi
authors.forename: Antonello
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bellomo
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Antonucci
authors.forename: Joseph H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Callicott
authors.forename: Terry E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Goldberg
authors.forename: Tommaso
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Scarabino
authors.forename: Daniel R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Weinberger
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nardini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D003401:Creatine / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001224:Aspartic Acid; C000179:N-acetylaspartate; D003401:Creatine