Folding of the prefrontal cortex in schizophrenia: regional differences in gyrification.
BACKGROUND
Anatomy of prefrontal cortex in schizophrenia has been studied previously by quantifying the degree of gyrification. Conflicting results exist, with some studies showing hypergyria and others showing hypogyria. It is likely that regional variations in cortical folding exist within the prefrontal cortex that could be explored by studying the anatomical subdivisions formed by the sulci and gyri. With surface reconstructions from magnetic resonance imaging, we studied the gyrification within anatomically meaningful subdivisions of prefrontal cortex in schizophrenia.


METHODS
Prefrontal cortex was studied with an automated method to obtain Local Gyrification Index, reflecting the degree of cortical folding in 57 patients with schizophrenia and 42 control subjects. Regional differences within prefrontal cortex were compared between the two groups with a sulcogyral atlas. Effects of hemisphere and age were subsequently assessed.


RESULTS
Patients with schizophrenia had significant hypogyria in most prefrontal regions except the frontomarginal region, which showed hypergyria. The normal left > right pattern of prefrontal gyrification was reversed in schizophrenia. Patients with schizophrenia also showed significant age-related reduction in gyrification at the hypogyric regions.


CONCLUSIONS
The differences between reported findings regarding prefrontal gyrification might reflect regional variation in the nature of the abnormal process of gyrification in schizophrenia. Prefrontal gyrification is significantly influenced by age in schizophrenia, in addition to the influence of neurodevelopmental factors.
Division of Psychiatry, University of Nottingham, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, United Kingdom. Lena.Palaniyappan@nottingham.ac.uk
Lena
L
Palaniyappan
Pavan
P
Mallikarjun
Verghese
V
Joseph
Thomas P
TP
White
Peter F
PF
Liddle
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents