title: Sulcal thickness as a vulnerability indicator for schizophrenia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  People with schizophrenia may demonstrate cortical abnormalities, with gyri and sulci potentially being differentially affected.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To measure frontal and temporal sulcal cortical thickness, surface area and volume in the non-psychotic relatives of patients with schizophrenia as a potential vulnerability indicator for the disorder.
  
  
  METHODS
  An automated parcellation method was used to measure the superior frontal, inferior frontal, cingulate, superior temporal and inferior temporal sulci in the relatives of patients (n=19) and controls (n=22).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with controls, relatives had reversed hemispheric asymmetry in their cingulate sulcal thickness and a bilateral reduction in their superior temporal sulcal thickness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cingulate and superior temporal sulcal thickness abnormalities may reflect neural abnormalities associated with the genetic liability to schizophrenia. Cortical thinning in these regions suggests that liability genes affect the dendrites, synapses or myelination process during the neurodevelopment of the cortical mantle.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, N218 Elliott Hall, 75 East River Road, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
authors.forename: Vina M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Goghari
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rehm
authors.forename: Cameron S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.forename: Angus W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: MacDonald
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000473:pathology*; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D006179:Gyrus Cinguli / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D012569:Schizotypal Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D012984:Software; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000473:pathology*