Sonia Batista1, Otília C d'Almeida2, Ana Afonso3, Sandra Freitas4, Carmo Macário5, Lívia Sousa1, Miguel Castelo-Branco2, Isabel Santana6, Luís Cunha1. 1. Department of Neurology, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal/Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal. 2. Visual Neuroscience Laboratory, Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Life Sciences (IBILI), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal/Centre for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Life Sciences (IBILI), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal/Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal. 3. Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal. 4. Centre for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Life Sciences (IBILI), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal/Centro de Investigação do Núcleo de Estudos e Intervenção Cognitivo Comportamental (CINEICC), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal/Psychological Assessment Lab, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal. 5. Department of Neurology, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal. 6. Department of Neurology, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal/Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Centre for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Life Sciences (IBILI), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) frequently reveal social behavior disturbance. Nevertheless, little is known regarding the impact of MS on social cognition, particularly theory of mind (ToM), and its neural basis. OBJECTIVES: To explore how ToM is affected in MS and its neural correlates. METHODS: Enrolled 60 consecutive MS patients and 60 healthy controls (HC) matched on age, sex, and education. Participants underwent ToM testing (Eyes Test, Videos Test) and 3 T brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Using Freesurfer software, cortical and subcortical gray matter (GM) volumes were calculated. RESULTS: MS patients performed worse on Eyes Test (58.7% ± 13.8% vs 81.9% ± 10.4%, p < 0.001) and Videos Test (75.3% ± 9.3% vs 88.1% ± 7.1%, p < 0.001). Eyes Test performance in MS was positively correlated with the volume of subcortical structures (amygdala, putamen) and cortical regions (entorhinal cortex, fusiform gyrus, superior temporal gyrus, superior parietal gyrus, supramarginal gyrus, medial orbitofrontal cortex, anterior and posterior cingulate gyrus). In regression analysis, amygdala volume was the single predictor of performance ( R2 change = 0.064, p = 0.031), and a mediation analysis indicated that it contributes for the differences observed between MS and HC. CONCLUSION: Patients with MS have impairment on social cognition. Amygdala atrophy was the main predictor probably due to its central position within the "social brain" network.
BACKGROUND:Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) frequently reveal social behavior disturbance. Nevertheless, little is known regarding the impact of MS on social cognition, particularly theory of mind (ToM), and its neural basis. OBJECTIVES: To explore how ToM is affected in MS and its neural correlates. METHODS: Enrolled 60 consecutive MS patients and 60 healthy controls (HC) matched on age, sex, and education. Participants underwent ToM testing (Eyes Test, Videos Test) and 3 T brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Using Freesurfer software, cortical and subcortical gray matter (GM) volumes were calculated. RESULTS: MS patients performed worse on Eyes Test (58.7% ± 13.8% vs 81.9% ± 10.4%, p < 0.001) and Videos Test (75.3% ± 9.3% vs 88.1% ± 7.1%, p < 0.001). Eyes Test performance in MS was positively correlated with the volume of subcortical structures (amygdala, putamen) and cortical regions (entorhinal cortex, fusiform gyrus, superior temporal gyrus, superior parietal gyrus, supramarginal gyrus, medial orbitofrontal cortex, anterior and posterior cingulate gyrus). In regression analysis, amygdala volume was the single predictor of performance ( R2 change = 0.064, p = 0.031), and a mediation analysis indicated that it contributes for the differences observed between MS and HC. CONCLUSION:Patients with MS have impairment on social cognition. Amygdala atrophy was the main predictor probably due to its central position within the "social brain" network.
Entities:
Keywords:
Multiple sclerosis; amygdala; social brain; social cognition; theory of mind
Authors: Pablo L Cardozo; Izabella B Q de Lima; Esther M A Maciel; Nathália C Silva; Tomas Dobransky; Fabíola M Ribeiro Journal: Curr Neuropharmacol Date: 2019 Impact factor: 7.363