Multivariate analyses suggest genetic impacts on neurocircuitry in schizophrenia.

We investigated the relationship of functional neurocircuitries and dopamine receptor D1 (DRD1) polymorphisms in schizophrenics during a working memory task. Participants performed the Serial Item Recognition Paradigm memory task during functional magnetic resonance imaging acquisition. We performed a data-driven multivariate analysis (partial least squares) to characterize brain network (covariance) patterns. Genetic testing identified two main genotypes. Accuracy did not differ between the groups. Covariance patterns of different areas (including the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and the inferior parietal lobule) were inversely related between the two genotypes. Two groups of schizophrenic patients with similar symptomatology and performance on a working memory task, but with distinct dopamine receptor genotypes, may use distinct neural systems to retrieve information.