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A resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study on the first-degree relatives of persons with schizophrenia

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Abstract

In this study, resting state fMRI images and BOLD signals were recorded from 13 first-degree relatives of schizophrenic patients and 13 healthy controls. The data were analyzed with the ReHo approach after realignment, registration, and normalization in statistical parametric mapping 2 (SPM2). A two-sample t-test was used to analyze the ReHo differences between first-degree relatives and healthy controls in a voxel by voxel manner. A combined threshold of p < 0.005 and number of voxels >5 was designated as statistically significant. To evaluate cognitive deficits in first-degree relatives, attention/vigilance and verbal/visual memory were measured. Significant impairments in attention were observed in first-degree relatives compared to healthy controls. Significant abnormalities in ReHo were observed in resting brain in first-degree relatives. Decreased ReHo was found to be distributed over the bilateral middle frontal, middle temporal, cingulate gyrus and cerebellar tonsil; the left inferior frontal gyrus, inferior parietal lobule and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex; the right superior frontal gyrus and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Increased ReHo was found to be distributed in the right precuneus and superior temporal gyrus. These changes in ReHo suggest abnormality in the resting state brain function of first-degree relatives of schizophrenic patients and may be early signs for the development of schizophrenia.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81000590 to Y Yi, No. 30900486 to J Tang).

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declared no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 139 Renmin Road, Changsha, 410008, China

    Haiyan Liao, Bing Zhou & Changlian Tan

  2. Mental Health Institute, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, China

    Lifeng Wang, Jinsong Tang, Liwen Tan & Xiaogang Chen

  3. Medical Psychological Institute, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, China

    Xiongzhao Zhu & Jingyao Yi

Authors
  1. Haiyan Liao
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  2. Lifeng Wang
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  3. Bing Zhou
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  4. Jinsong Tang
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  5. Liwen Tan
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  6. Xiongzhao Zhu
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  7. Jingyao Yi
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  8. Xiaogang Chen
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  9. Changlian Tan
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Correspondence to Changlian Tan.

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Liao, H., Wang, L., Zhou, B. et al. A resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study on the first-degree relatives of persons with schizophrenia. Brain Imaging and Behavior 6, 397–403 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11682-012-9154-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11682-012-9154-7

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