Structural neural correlates of impairments in social cognition in first episode psychosis

Abstract

Several studies have demonstrated that patients with schizophrenia show impairments in social cognition and current evidence indicate that this deficit is associated with abnormal activity in specific brain regions. In addition to functional imaging studies, we believe that the identification of structural correlates of social cognitive processes may help to better understand the neural underpinnings of these specific skills. The main objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between gray matter density and social cognitive deficits in first episode of schizophrenia spectrum psychosis, using a comprehensive assessment that we previously demonstrated to be a highly sensitive measure of social cognitive deficits in this population. Thirty-eight patients with a first episode of psychosis participated in this study, and the Four Factor Test of Social Intelligence was used as a measure of social cognition. Social cognitive impairments in first episode psychosis were significantly correlated with reduced gray-matter density in the left middle frontal gyrus other regions within the mirror neuron system network (MSN), namely the right supplementary motor cortex, the left superior temporal gyrus and the left inferior parietal lobule. We concluded that structural abnormalities within the MSN may account for the social cognitive deficits present in some psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia.

Empathic deficits in schizophrenia: The potential role of rapid facial mimicry

“…However, because impairments in empathic responding are well documented in schizophrenia (Derntl et al, 2009 ;Shamay-Tsoory et al, 2007 ), and have been argued to refl ect structural abnormalities in the human MNS (Bertrand et al, 2008 ), it was predicted that this group would exhibit a disruption in this empathy-related rapid facial mimicry response. Consistent with predictions, the schizophrenia group failed to produce involuntary facial reactions congruent with observed emotional facial expressions.…”

“…Thus, although Kring et al ( 1999 ) identifi ed an intact mimicry response in those with schizophrenia over an extended timeframe, it was predicted that because empathic behaviors are disrupted in this group (and have been argued to refl ect structural abnormalities in the human MNS; Bertrand et al, 2008 ) schizophrenia would be associated with abnormalities in the empathy-related rapid facial mimicry response. A secondary aim was to assess whether any observed abnormalities in facial muscle activity are related to clinical symptoms of the disorder, and in particular, blunted affect.…”

Altered cortical structures and tract integrity of the mirror neuron system in association with symptoms of schizophrenia

“…This finding suggests that the smaller the volume of the left SMg, the more severe the negative symptoms. Consistent with this conclusion Bertrand et al using voxel-based morphometry, found a strong positive correlation between social cognition and the gray matter density of several regions of the MNS, including the left inferior parietal region (Bertrand et al, 2008). More specifically, it has been suggested that the morphometric changes are more pronounced in the supramarginal gyrus than in the angular gyrus in schizophrenia, especially affecting the left hemisphere (Palaniyappan and Liddle, 2012).…”

“…Previous studies in schizophrenia did not specifically investigate the SMg and Pop, but some have reported smaller volumes in the inferior frontal gyrus (Suzuki et al, 2002;Antonova et al, 2005;Jayakumar et al, 2005;Yoshihara et al, 2008;Tanskanen et al, 2010) and the inferior parietal lobule (Jayakumar et al, 2005;Bertrand et al, 2008;Wolf et al, 2008) by voxel-based morphometry. ROI studies have also shown volume reductions in the inferior frontal gyrus (Suzuki et al, 2005;Ohtani et al, 2014).…”

From social neurons to social cognition: implications for schizophrenia research / Sosyal nöronlardan sosyal kognisyona: Şizofreni araştırmalarına etkileri

“…Patients had shown relatively more activation in those brain areas when facial stimuli were presented than when simple coloured dots were shown. Likewise, Bertrand et al (70) proposed that deficits of the MNS contribute to the known deficits of schizophrenic patients in social cognition, based on the observation that grey matter density in brain areas corresponding to the localisation of the MN was decreased in patients with low social cognition performance (assessed using the Four Factor Test of Social Intelligence).…”