Pengfei Xu1, Nicky G Klaasen2, Esther M Opmeer3, Gerdina H M Pijnenborg4, Marie-José van Tol2, Edith J Liemburg2, André Aleman5. 1. Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Affective and Social Neuroscience, Center for Brain Disorders and Cognitive Sciences, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China; Center for Neuroimaging, Shenzhen Institute of Neuroscience, Shenzhen, China; Cognitive Neuroscience Center, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands. Electronic address: xupf@szu.edu.cn. 2. Cognitive Neuroscience Center, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands. 3. Cognitive Neuroscience Center, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands; Department of Health and Social Work, University of applied sciences Windesheim, Zwolle, the Netherlands. 4. Department of Psychology, University of Groningen, the Netherlands; Department of Psychotic Disorders, GGZ Drenthe, Assen, the Netherlands. 5. Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Affective and Social Neuroscience, Center for Brain Disorders and Cognitive Sciences, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China; Cognitive Neuroscience Center, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands; Department of Psychology, University of Groningen, the Netherlands.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Social amotivation is a core element of the negative symptoms of schizophrenia. However, it is still largely unknown which neural substrates underpin social amotivation in people with schizophrenia, though deficiencies in the mesocorticolimbic dopamine system have been proposed. METHODS: We examined the association between social amotivation and substantia nigra/ventral tegmental area-seeded intrinsic connectivity in 84 people with schizophrenia using resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS: Spontaneous fluctuations of midbrain dopaminergic regions were positively associated with striatal and prefrontal fluctuations in people with schizophrenia. Most importantly, social amotivation was negatively associated with functional connectivity between the midbrain's substantia nigra/ventral tegmental area and medial- and lateral prefrontal cortex, the temporoparietal junction, and dorsal and ventral striatum. These associations were observed independently of depressive and positive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that social amotivation in people with schizophrenia is associated with altered intrinsic connectivity of mesocorticolimbic pathways linked to cognitive control and reward processing. Dysconnectivity of dopaminergic neuronal ensembles that are fundamental to approach behavior and motivation may help explain the lack of initiative social behavior in people with social amotivation.
BACKGROUND: Social amotivation is a core element of the negative symptoms of schizophrenia. However, it is still largely unknown which neural substrates underpin social amotivation in people with schizophrenia, though deficiencies in the mesocorticolimbic dopamine system have been proposed. METHODS: We examined the association between social amotivation and substantia nigra/ventral tegmental area-seeded intrinsic connectivity in 84 people with schizophrenia using resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS: Spontaneous fluctuations of midbrain dopaminergic regions were positively associated with striatal and prefrontal fluctuations in people with schizophrenia. Most importantly, social amotivation was negatively associated with functional connectivity between the midbrain's substantia nigra/ventral tegmental area and medial- and lateral prefrontal cortex, the temporoparietal junction, and dorsal and ventral striatum. These associations were observed independently of depressive and positive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that social amotivation in people with schizophrenia is associated with altered intrinsic connectivity of mesocorticolimbic pathways linked to cognitive control and reward processing. Dysconnectivity of dopaminergic neuronal ensembles that are fundamental to approach behavior and motivation may help explain the lack of initiative social behavior in people with social amotivation.
Authors: Ángeles Tepper; Analía Cuiza; Luz María Alliende; Carlos Mena; Juan Pablo Ramirez-Mahaluf; Barbara Iruretagoyena; Claudia Ornstein; Rosemarie Fritsch; Ruben Nachar; Alfonso González-Valderrama; Juan Undurraga; Juan Pablo Cruz; Cristian Tejos; Alex Fornito; Gabriela Repetto; Nicolas Crossley Journal: Schizophr Bull Date: 2022-03-01 Impact factor: 9.306
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