title: Multivariate patterns of brain-cognition associations relating to vulnerability and clinical outcome in the at-risk mental states for psychosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Neuropsychological deficits are a core feature of established psychosis and have been previously linked to fronto-temporo-limbic brain alterations. Both neurocognitive and neuroanatomical abnormalities characterize clinical at-risk mental states (ARMS) for psychosis. However, structure-cognition relationships in the ARMS have not been directly explored using multivariate neuroimaging techniques.
  
  
  METHODS
  Voxel-based morphometry and partial least squares were employed to study system-level covariance patterns between whole-brain morphological data and processing speed, working memory, verbal learning/IQ, and executive functions in 40 ARMS subjects and 30 healthy controls (HC). The detected structure-cognition covariance patterns were tested for significance and reliability using non-parametric permutation and bootstrap resampling.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified ARMS-specific covariance patterns that described a generalized association of neurocognitive measures with predominantly prefronto-temporo-limbic and subcortical structures as well as the interconnecting white matter. In the conversion group, this generalized profile particularly involved working memory and verbal IQ and was positively correlated with limbic, insular and subcortical volumes as well as negatively related to prefrontal, temporal, parietal, and occipital cortices. Conversely, the neurocognitive profiles in the HC group were confined to working memory, learning and IQ, which were diffusely associated with cortical and subcortical brain regions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that the ARMS and prodromal phase of psychosis are characterized by a convergent mapping from multi-domain neurocognitive measures to a set of prefronto-temporo-limbic and subcortical structures. Furthermore, a neuroanatomical separation between positive and negative brain-cognition correlations may not only point to a biological process determining the clinical risk for disease transition, but also to possible compensatory or dysmaturational neural processes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilian-University, Munich, Germany. Nikolaos.Koutsouleris@med.uni-muenchen.de
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Koutsouleris
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gaser
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Patschurek-Kliche
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Scheuerecker
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bottlender
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Decker
authors.forename: Gisela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schmitt
authors.forename: Maximilian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reiser
authors.forename: Hans-Jürgen
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Möller
authors.forename: Eva M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Meisenzahl
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012306:Risk; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014706:Verbal Learning / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult