Open AccessPerfusion shift from white to gray matter may account for processing speed deficits in schizophrenia
Author(s) -
Wright Susan N.,
Hong L. Elliot,
Winkler Anderson M.,
Chiappelli Joshua,
Nugent Katie,
Muellerklein Florian,
Du Xioming,
Rowland Laura M.,
Wang Danny J. J.,
Kochunov Peter
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
human brain mapping
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.005
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1097-0193
pISSN - 1065-9471
DOI - 10.1002/hbm.22878
Subject(s) - white matter , psychology , neuroscience , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , diffusion mri , working memory , cognition , audiology , magnetic resonance imaging , medicine , psychiatry , radiology
Reduced speed of cerebral information processing is a cognitive deficit associated with schizophrenia. Normal information processing speed (PS) requires intact white matter (WM) physiology to support information transfer. In a cohort of 107 subjects (47/60 patients/controls), we demonstrate that PS deficits in schizophrenia patients are explained by reduced WM integrity, which is measured using diffusion tensor imaging, mediated by the mismatch in WM/gray matter blood perfusion, and measured using arterial spin labeling. Our findings are specific to PS, and testing this hypothesis for patient‐control differences in working memory produces no explanation. We demonstrate that PS deficits in schizophrenia can be explained by neurophysiological alterations in cerebral WM. Whether the disproportionately low WM integrity in schizophrenia is due to illness or secondary due to this disorder deserves further examination. Hum Brain Mapp 36:3793–3804, 2015 . © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.