title: Emotion recognition and theory of mind are related to gray matter volume of the prefrontal cortex in schizophrenia.
abstract: Investigations of social cognition in schizophrenia have demonstrated consistent impairments compared to healthy controls. Functional imaging studies in schizophrenia patients and healthy controls have revealed that social cognitive processing depends critically on the amygdala and the prefrontal cortex (PFC). However, the relationship between social cognition and structural brain abnormalities in these regions in schizophrenia patients is less well understood. Measures of facial emotion recognition and theory of mind (ToM), two key social cognitive abilities, as well as face perception and IQ, were assessed in 166 patients with schizophrenia and 134 healthy controls. MRI brain scans were acquired. Automated parcellation of the brain to determine gray matter volume of the amygdala and the superior, middle, inferior and orbital PFC was performed. Between-group analyses showed poorer recognition of angry faces and ToM performance, and decreased amygdala and PFC gray matter volumes in schizophrenia patients as compared to healthy controls. Moreover, in schizophrenia patients, recognition of angry faces was associated with inferior PFC gray matter volume, particularly the pars triangularis (p=0.006), with poor performance being related to reduced pars triangularis gray matter volume. In addition, ToM ability was related to PFC gray matter volume, particularly middle PFC (p=0.001), in that poor ToM skills in schizophrenia patients were associated with reduced middle PFC gray matter volume. In conclusion, reduced PFC, but not amygdala, gray matter volume is associated with social cognitive deficits in schizophrenia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Waterland Ziekenhuis, Waterlandlaan 250, 1441 RN Purmerend, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Arija
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maat
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht - Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Huispostnummer A 00.241, Postbus 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Neeltje E M
authors.initials: NEM
authors.lastname: van Haren
authors.affiliation: Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Center, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne and Melbourne Health, 161 Barry Street, Carlton South, Victoria 3053, Australia.
authors.forename: Cali F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Bartholomeusz
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht - Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Huispostnummer A 00.241, Postbus 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: René S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Kahn
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht - Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Huispostnummer A 00.241, Postbus 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: w.cahn@umcutrecht.nl.
authors.forename: Wiepke
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cahn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D005149:Facial Expression; D005260:Female; D066128:Gray Matter / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000502:physiology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012938:Social Perception; D056345:Theory of Mind / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Amygdala; Gray matter volume; Magnetic resonance imaging; Prefrontal cortex; Schizophrenia; Social cognition