Neural correlates of prospective memory in individuals with schizotypal personality features.
OBJECTIVE
Prospective memory (PM) refers to the ability to remember to perform actions in the future. Schizophrenia spectrum disorders show impairments in PM but neural correlates of these impairments remain unclear. The present study aimed to examine brain activation during PM to identify impairments in individuals with schizotypal personality features.


METHODS
Nineteen participants with schizotypal features and 22 healthy controls participated in a functional MRI experiment while performing a PM task.


RESULTS
Results showed that the prefrontal cortex (including Brodmann Area [BA] 10), middle temporal gyrus, and precuneus were activated when performing the PM task compared with baseline. The schizotypal and control groups did not differ in behavioral PM performance. However, participants with schizotypal features showed decreased activations in the inferior and medial frontal lobes (BA 45, and 8).


CONCLUSIONS
These results confirmed that the PM network involves prefrontal cortex, including BA 10. The lower activation in prefrontal cortex of individuals with schizotypal features when performing a PM task indicates brain activation abnormality. Notably, this abnormality may occur in the absence of any behavioral manifestation. Our findings support the hypothesis of frontal lobe involvement in PM deficits observed in individuals with schizotypal features.
Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Mental Health.
Ya
Y
Wang
Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Mental Health.
Tian-xiao
TX
Yang
Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge.
Li
L
Su
Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Mental Health.
Chao
C
Yan
Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Mental Health.
Yi
Y
Wang
Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Mental Health.
Jia
J
Huang
Department of Physics, East China Normal University.
Ming-xia
MX
Fan
Department of Physics, East China Normal University.
Da-zi
DZ
Yin
MRI Division, Beijing 306 Hospital.
Zhen
Z
Jin
MRI Division, Beijing 306 Hospital.
Ya-wei
YW
Zeng
Behavioural Basis of Health Program, Griffith Health Institute.
David H K
DH
Shum
Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania.
Ruben C
RC
Gur
Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Mental Health.
Raymond C K
RC
Chan
D000293:Adolescent; D001931:Brain Mapping; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007600:Judgment; D016014:Linear Models; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D061212:Memory, Episodic; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011930:Reaction Time; D012569:Schizotypal Personality Disorder / Q000150:complications*; D055815:Young Adult
D010100:Oxygen