Bilateral anterior corona radiata microstructure organisation relates to impaired social cognition in schizophrenia

Tom Burke; Laurena Holleran; David Mothersill; James Lyons; Nathan O'Rourke; Christina Gleeson; Dara M Cannon; Declan P McKernan; Derek W Morris; John P Kelly; Brian Hallahan; Colm McDonald; Gary Donohoe

doi:10.1016/j.schres.2023.10.035

Bilateral anterior corona radiata microstructure organisation relates to impaired social cognition in schizophrenia

Schizophr Res. 2023 Dec:262:87-94. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2023.10.035. Epub 2023 Nov 5.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ School of Psychology, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland; Center for Neuroimaging Cognition and Genomics, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland.
² School of Psychology, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland; Center for Neuroimaging Cognition and Genomics, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland; Psychology Department, School of Business, National College of, Ireland.
³ Center for Neuroimaging Cognition and Genomics, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland; Clinical Neuroimaging Laboratory, Galway Neuroscience Centre, College of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland.
⁴ Pharmacology & Therapeutics and Galway Neuroscience Centre, National University of Ireland Galway, H91 W5P7 Galway, Ireland.
⁵ Center for Neuroimaging Cognition and Genomics, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland.
⁶ Center for Neuroimaging Cognition and Genomics, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland; Department of Psychiatry, Clinical Science Institute, National University of Ireland Galway, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland.
⁷ School of Psychology, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland; Center for Neuroimaging Cognition and Genomics, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland. Electronic address: gary.donohoe@universityofgalway.ie.

PMID: 37931564
DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2023.10.035

Abstract

Objective: The Corona Radiata (CR) is a large white matter tract in the brain comprising of the anterior CR (aCR), superior CR (sCR), and posterior CR (pCR), which have associations with cognition, self-regulation, and, in schizophrenia, positive symptom severity. This study tested the hypothesis that the microstructural organisation of the aCR, as measured by Fractional Anisotropy (FA) using Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI), would relate to poorer social cognitive outcomes and higher positive symptom severity for people with schizophrenia, when compared to healthy participants. We further hypothesised that increased positive symptoms would relate to poorer social cognitive outcomes.

Methods: Data were derived from n = 178 healthy participants (41 % females; 36.11 ± 12.36 years) and 58 people with schizophrenia (30 % females; 42.4 ± 11.1 years). The Positive and Negative Symptom Severity Scale measured clinical symptom severity. Social Cognition was measured using the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET) Total Score, as well as the Positive, Neutral, and Negative stimuli valence. The ENIGMA-DTI protocol tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) was used.

Results: There was a significant difference in FA for the CR, in individuals with schizophrenia compared to healthy participants. On stratification, both the aCR and pCR were significantly different between groups, with patients showing reduced white matter tract microstructural organisation. Significant negative correlations were observed between positive symptomatology and reduced microstructural organisation of the aCR. Performance for RMET negative valence items was significantly correlated bilaterally with the aCR, but not the sCR or pCR, and no relationship to positive symptoms was observed.

Conclusions: These data highlight specific and significant microstructural white-matter differences for people with schizophrenia, which relates to positive clinical symptomology and poorer performance on social cognition stimuli. While reduced FA is associated with higher positive symptomatology in schizophrenia, this study shows the specific associated with anterior frontal white matter tracts and reduced social cognitive performance. The aCR may have a specific role to play in frontal-disconnection syndromes, psychosis, and social cognitive profile within schizophrenia, though further research requires more sensitive, specific, and detailed consideration of social cognition outcomes.

Keywords: Clinical outcomes; Corona radiata; Diffusion tensor imaging; Mentalising; Psychosis; Schizophrenia; Social cognition; Symptom severity.

MeSH terms

Anisotropy
Brain
Diffusion Tensor Imaging / methods
Female
Humans
Male
Schizophrenia* / complications
Schizophrenia* / diagnostic imaging
Social Cognition
White Matter* / diagnostic imaging