title: White matter microstructure and volitional motor activity in schizophrenia: A diffusion kurtosis imaging study.
abstract: Avolition is a core feature of schizophrenia and may arise from altered brain connectivity. Here we used diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) to investigate the association between white matter (WM) microstructure and volitional motor activity. Multi-shell diffusion MRI and 24-h actigraphy data were obtained from 20 right-handed patients with schizophrenia and 16 right-handed age and gender matched healthy controls. We examined correlations between fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), mean kurtosis (MK), and motor activity level, as well as group differences in these measures. In the patient group, increasing motor activity level was positively correlated with MK in the inferior, medial and superior longitudinal fasciculus, the corpus callosum, the posterior fronto-occipital fasciculus and the posterior cingulum. This association was not found in control subjects or in DTI measures. These results show that a lack of volitional motor activity in schizophrenia is associated with potentially altered WM microstructure in posterior brain regions associated with cognitive function and motivation. This could reflect both illness related dysconnectivity which through altered cognition, manifests as reduced volitional motor activity, and/or the effects of reduced physical activity on brain WM.
authors.affiliation: Collaborative Antwerp Psychiatric Research Institute (CAPRI), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium; PC Broeders Alexianen Boechout, Provinciesteenweg 408, 2530 Boechout, Belgium. Electronic address: lise.docx@uantwerpen.be.
authors.forename: Lise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Docx
authors.affiliation: University Psychiatry Centre (UPC)-KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Emsell
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Antwerp University Hospital & University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Wim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Van Hecke
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Antwerp University Hospital & University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Timo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: De Bondt
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Antwerp University Hospital & University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Paul M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Parizel
authors.affiliation: Collaborative Antwerp Psychiatric Research Institute (CAPRI), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium; PZ St Norbertus Duffel, Stationsstraat 25c, 2570 Duffel, Belgium.
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sabbe
authors.affiliation: Collaborative Antwerp Psychiatric Research Institute (CAPRI), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium; PC Broeders Alexianen Boechout, Provinciesteenweg 408, 2530 Boechout, Belgium.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morrens
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016880:Anisotropy; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D066127:White Matter / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Actigraphy; Avolition; Diffusion imaging; Motor activity; Schizophrenia; White matter