Aberrant Functional Whole-Brain Network Architecture in Patients With Schizophrenia: A Meta-analysis

Abstract

Findings from multiple lines of research provide evidence of aberrant functional brain connectivity in schizophrenia. By using graph-analytical measures, recent studies indicate that patients with schizophrenia exhibit changes in the organizational principles of whole-brain networks and that these changes relate to cognitive symptoms. However, there has not been a systematic investigation of functional brain network changes in schizophrenia to test the consistency of these changes across multiple studies. A comprehensive literature search was conducted to identify all available functional graph-analytical studies in patients with schizophrenia. Effect size measures were derived from each study and entered in a random-effects meta-analytical model. All models were tested for effects of potential moderator variables as well as for the presence of publication bias. The results of a total of n = 13 functional neuroimaging studies indicated that brain networks in patients with schizophrenia exhibit significant decreases in measures of local organization (g = -0.56, P = .02) and significant decreases in small-worldness (g = -0.65, P = .01) whereas global short communication paths seemed to be preserved (g = 0.26, P = .32). There was no evidence for a publication bias or moderator effects. The present meta- analysis demonstrates significant changes in whole brain network architecture associated with schizophrenia across studies.

A Neurophysiological Perspective on a Preventive Treatment against Schizophrenia Using Transcranial Electric Stimulation of the Corticothalamic Pathway

“…There is increasing evidence that the psychiatric disorders and the cognitive deficits of patients with schizophrenia are associated with and may be caused by dysfunction of highly-distributed systems displaying disturbed spatiotemporal activity patterns. Moreover, a recent meta-analysis demonstrated significant changes in whole brain network architecture associated with schizophrenia [18]. This supports the notion of functional interactions between multiple molecular, cellular and system pathways, which contribute to the multiple symptoms and cognitive deficits in schizophrenia [19].…”

Synaptic Plasticity Shapes Brain Connectivity: Implications for Network Topology

“…Previous studies exploring brain network organization in schizophrenia showed alterations of several properties [165][166][167][168][169][170]. In particular, reduced hub connectivity [171] and rich club organization have been reported in schizophrenic patients [172].…”

Altered resting state functional connectivity in a thalamo-cortico-cerebellar network in patients with schizophrenia

“…Regarding its pathophysiology, different models have been proposed, which suggest that alterations in functional connectivity between different brain regions might underlie the variety of symptoms associated with schizophrenia 4,5 . Indeed, a growing body of empirical studies reported aberrant connectivity pattern in patients with schizophrenia where the integration of information across multiple brain areas is compromised resulting in disrupted brain networks [7][8][9][10][11]24 .…”

“…Prominent examples are the cognitive dysmetria and disconnection hypothesis [4][5][6]. Indeed, within the last years a growing body of neuroimaging studies report aberrant brain circuitry causing a failure in coordinating information across multiple brain sites [7][8][9][10][11] .…”