title: Disrupted white matter connectivity is associated with reduced cortical thickness in the cingulate cortex in schizophrenia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Both impaired white matter connectivity and alterations in gray matter morphometry have repeatedly been reported in schizophrenia. Neurodevelopmental models propose a close linkage between gray matter alterations and white matter deficits. However, there are no studies investigating alterations in cortical thickness in relation to white matter connectivity changes.
  
  
  METHODS
  This combined diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) - surface based morphometry study examined a potential linkage between disruption in white matter connectivity and alterations in cortical thickness. Cortical thickness was analyzed using the FreeSurfer software package (version 4.0.5, http://surfer.nmr.harvard.edu) in a sample of 19 patients with schizophrenia and 20 healthy controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Whole brain node-by-node correlational analysis revealed a highly significant association ( r= -.8, p < .0001) between disturbed white matter connectivity in the superior temporal cortex and diminished cortical thickness in the posterior part of the cingulate cortex (Brodmann area 23/31).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This result indicates a significant linkage between disturbed white matter connectivity and reduced cortical thickness in a relevant node of the default mode network that is held to be of high pathophysiological relevance in schizophrenia. The result moreover provides support for the assumption of a neurodevelopmental pathogenesis of the disorder.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Jena University Hospital, Jahnstr. 3, Jena, Germany. kathrin.koch@med.uni-jena.de
authors.forename: Kathrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.forename: C Christoph
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Schultz
authors.forename: Gerd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schachtzabel
authors.forename: Jürgen R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Reichenbach
authors.forename: Heinrich
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sauer
authors.forename: Ralf G M
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Schlösser
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001931:Brain Mapping; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging; D005260:Female; D006179:Gyrus Cinguli / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000473:pathology*; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000473:pathology*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology