Treatment with olanzapine is associated with modulation of the default mode network in patients with Schizophrenia.
Earlier studies have shown widespread alterations of functional connectivity of various brain networks in schizophrenia, including the default mode network (DMN). The DMN has also an important role in the performance of cognitive tasks. Furthermore, treatment with second-generation antipsychotic drugs may ameliorate to some degree working memory (WM) deficits and related brain activity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of treatment with olanzapine monotherapy on functional connectivity among brain regions of the DMN during WM. Seventeen patients underwent an 8-week prospective study and completed two functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans at 4 and 8 weeks of treatment during the performance of the N-back WM task. To control for potential repetition effects, 19 healthy controls also underwent two fMRI scans at a similar time interval. We used spatial group-independent component analysis (ICA) to analyze fMRI data. Relative to controls, patients with schizophrenia had reduced connectivity strength within the DMN in posterior cingulate, whereas it was greater in precuneus and inferior parietal lobule. Treatment with olanzapine was associated with increases in DMN connectivity with ventromedial prefrontal cortex, but not in posterior regions of DMN. These results suggest that treatment with olanzapine is associated with the modulation of DMN connectivity in schizophrenia. In addition, our findings suggest critical functional differences in the regions of DMN.
Sambataro
Fabio
F
Psychiatric Neuroscience Group, Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Sciences, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
Blasi
Giuseppe
G
Fazio
Leonardo
L
Caforio
Grazia
G
Taurisano
Paolo
P
Romano
Raffaella
R
Di Giorgio
Annabella
A
Gelao
Barbara
B
Lo Bianco
Luciana
L
Papazacharias
Apostolos
A
Popolizio
Teresa
T
Nardini
Marcello
M
Bertolino
Alessandro
A
D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply / Q000187:drug effects; D001931:Brain Mapping; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000187:drug effects; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000098:blood supply / Q000187:drug effects; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D000077152:Olanzapine; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D025341:Principal Component Analysis / Q000379:methods; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D000077152:Olanzapine; D010100:Oxygen