Voxel-based morphometry in schizophrenia: implications for neurodevelopmental connectivity models, cognition and affect

Abstract

Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) studies have provided valuable data on the nature and distribution of gray and white matter abnormalities in schizophrenia relative to the whole brain. Most VBM studies have focused on chronic patients, but there are accumulating studies of first-episode schizophrenia and other high-risk groups such as first-degree relatives. This review outlines the evidence from VBM studies of both chronic and first-episode/high-risk groups. The most consistent reduction revealed in chronic patients is in the superior temporal cortex, and in first-episode/high-risk individuals, in frontal brain regions. These findings are reviewed in relation to complementary evidence for neurodevelopmental deviation, and functional associations with both neuroimaging and behavioral measures of general and social cognition.

Keywords::

• first episode
• general and social cognition
• gray matter
• MRI
• neurodevelopment
• schizophrenia
• symptom
• synaptic connectivity
• VBM
• voxel-based morphometry
• white matter

Financial & competing interests disclosure

Leanne Williams holds a peer-reviewed Pfizer Senior Research Fellowship. Williams also has a small number of private shares (<1% of value) in Brain Resource Company Ltd. The author has no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.