title: Alterations of white matter integrity related to motor activity in schizophrenia.
abstract: Altered structural connectivity is a key finding in schizophrenia, but the meaning of white matter alterations for behavior is rarely studied. In healthy subjects, motor activity correlated with white matter integrity in motor tracts. To explore the relation of motor activity and fractional anisotropy (FA) in schizophrenia, we investigated 19 schizophrenia patients and 24 healthy control subjects using Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) and actigraphy on the same day. Schizophrenia patients had lower activity levels (AL). In both groups linear relations of AL and FA were detected in several brain regions. Schizophrenia patients had lower FA values in prefrontal and left temporal clusters. Furthermore, using a general linear model, we found linear negative associations of FA and AL underneath the right supplemental motor area (SMA), the right precentral gyrus and posterior cingulum in patients. This effect within the SMA was not seen in controls. This association in schizophrenia patients may contribute to the well known dysfunctions of motor control. Thus, structural disconnectivity could lead to disturbed motor behavior in schizophrenia.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital of Psychiatry, University of Bern, Bolligenstrasse 111, 3000 Bern 60, Switzerland. walther@puk.unibe.ch
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Walther
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Federspiel
authors.forename: Helge
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Horn
authors.forename: Nadja
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Razavi
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wiest
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dierks
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Strik
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Müller
mesh_terms: D056044:Actigraphy; D000328:Adult; D016880:Anisotropy; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001931:Brain Mapping; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology