Abnormal functional motor lateralization in healthy siblings of patients with schizophrenia.
Earlier neuroimaging studies of motor function in schizophrenia have demonstrated reduced functional lateralization in the motor network during motor tasks. Here, we used event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging during a visually guided motor task in 18 clinically unaffected siblings of patients with schizophrenia and 24 matched controls to investigate if abnormal functional lateralization is related to genetic risk for this brain disorder. Whereas activity associated with motor task performance was mainly contralateral with only a marginal ipsilateral component in healthy participants, unaffected siblings had strong bilateral activity with significantly greater response in ipsilateral and contralateral premotor areas as well as in contralateral subcortical motor regions relative to controls. Reduced lateralization in siblings was also identified with a measure of laterality quotient. These findings suggest that abnormal functional lateralization of motor circuitry is related to genetic risk of schizophrenia.
Department of Medical Science, Psychiatry Unit, University of Foggia, Italy.
Mario
M
Altamura
Leonardo
L
Fazio
Michela
M
De Salvia
Annamaria
A
Petito
Giuseppe
G
Blasi
Paolo
P
Taurisano
Raffaella
R
Romano
Barbara
B
Gelao
Antonello
A
Bellomo
Alessandro
A
Bertolino
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D059907:Functional Neuroimaging; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000235:genetics*; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D011930:Reaction Time; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D035781:Siblings / Q000523:psychology*