title: Aberrant activity and connectivity of the posterior superior temporal sulcus during social cognition in schizophrenia.
abstract: Schizophrenia is associated with significant impairments in social cognition. These impairments have been shown to go along with altered activation of the posterior superior temporal sulcus (pSTS). However, studies that investigate connectivity of pSTS during social cognition in schizophrenia are sparse. Twenty-two patients with schizophrenia and 22 matched healthy controls completed a social-cognitive task for functional magnetic resonance imaging that allows the investigation of affective Theory of Mind (ToM), emotion recognition and the processing of neutral facial expressions. Moreover, a resting-state measurement was taken. Patients with schizophrenia performed worse in the social-cognitive task (main effect of group). In addition, a group by social-cognitive processing interaction was revealed for activity, as well as for connectivity during the social-cognitive task, i.e., patients with schizophrenia showed hyperactivity of right pSTS during neutral face processing, but hypoactivity during emotion recognition and affective ToM. In addition, hypoconnectivity between right and left pSTS was revealed for affective ToM, but not for neutral face processing or emotion recognition. No group differences in connectivity from right to left pSTS occurred during resting state. This pattern of aberrant activity and connectivity of the right pSTS during social cognition might form the basis of false-positive perceptions of emotions and intentions and could contribute to the emergence and sustainment of delusions.
authors: Department of Clinical Psychology, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg/Medical Faculty Mannheim, J5, 68159, Mannheim, Germany. Daniela.Mier@zi-mannheim.de.
authors: Daniela
authors: D
authors: Mier
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg/Medical Faculty Mannheim, J5, 68159, Mannheim, Germany.
authors: Sarah
authors: S
authors: Eisenacher
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg/Medical Faculty Mannheim, J5, 68159, Mannheim, Germany.
authors: Franziska
authors: F
authors: Rausch
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg/Medical Faculty Mannheim, J5, 68159, Mannheim, Germany.
authors: Susanne
authors: S
authors: Englisch
authors: Department of Clinical Psychology, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg/Medical Faculty Mannheim, J5, 68159, Mannheim, Germany.
authors: Martin Fungisai
authors: MF
authors: Gerchen
authors: Department of Clinical Psychology, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg/Medical Faculty Mannheim, J5, 68159, Mannheim, Germany.
authors: Vera
authors: V
authors: Zamoscik
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg/Medical Faculty Mannheim, J5, 68159, Mannheim, Germany.
authors: Andreas
authors: A
authors: Meyer-Lindenberg
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg/Medical Faculty Mannheim, J5, 68159, Mannheim, Germany.
authors: Mathias
authors: M
authors: Zink
authors: Department of Clinical Psychology, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg/Medical Faculty Mannheim, J5, 68159, Mannheim, Germany.
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Kirsch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012919:Social Behavior; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D056345:Theory of Mind
keywords: Functional magnetic resonance imaging; Posterior superior temporal sulcus; Psychophysiological interactions; Resting-state connectivity; Schizophrenia; Social cognition