Hyperintensity of functional networks involving voice-selective cortical regions during silent thought in schizophrenia.
An important aspect of schizophrenia symptomatology is inner-outer confusion, or blurring of ego boundaries, which is linked to symptoms such as hallucinations and Schneiderian delusions. Dysfunction in the cognitive processes involved in the generation of private thoughts may contribute to blurring of the ego boundaries through increased activation in functional networks including speech- and voice-selective cortical regions. In the present study, the neural underpinnings of silent verbal thought generation and speech perception were investigated using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Functional connectivity analysis was performed using constrained principal component analysis for fMRI (fMRI-CPCA). Group differences were observable on two functional networks: one reflecting hyperactivity in speech- and voice-selective cortical regions (e.g., bilateral superior temporal gyri (STG)) during both speech perception and silent verbal thought generation, and another involving hyperactivity in a multiple demands (i.e., task-positive) network that included Wernicke's area, during silent verbal thought generation. This set of preliminary results suggests that hyperintensity of functional networks involving voice-selective cortical regions may contribute to the blurring of ego boundaries characteristic of schizophrenia.
Speech and Cognition Department, GIPSA-lab, UMR5216, CNRS, Grenoble University, Grenoble, France.
Lucile A
LA
Rapin
Marion
M
Dohen
Hélène
H
Lœvenbruck
Jennifer C
JC
Whitman
Paul D
PD
Metzak
Todd S
TS
Woodward
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D013067:Speech Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014825:Vocabulary; D014831:Voice; D055815:Young Adult
D010100:Oxygen