García-Martí G, Aguilar EJ, Martí-Bonmatí L, Escartí MJ, Sanjuán J. Multimodal morphometry and functional magnetic resonance imaging in schizophrenia and auditory hallucinations. World J Radiol 2012; 4(4): 159-166 [PMID: 22590670 DOI: 10.4329/wjr.v4.i4.159]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Gracián García-Martí, Cp. D, PhD, CIBERSAM, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valencia, Avenue Blasco Ibañez 15, 46010 Valencia, Spain. gracian.garcia@gmail.com
Article-Type of This Article
Brief Article
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World J Radiol. Apr 28, 2012; 4(4): 159-166 Published online Apr 28, 2012. doi: 10.4329/wjr.v4.i4.159
Multimodal morphometry and functional magnetic resonance imaging in schizophrenia and auditory hallucinations
Gracián García-Martí, Eduardo Jesús Aguilar, Luis Martí-Bonmatí, M José Escartí, Julio Sanjuán
Gracián García-Martí, Eduardo Jesús Aguilar, M José Escartí, Julio Sanjuán, CIBERSAM, University of Valencia, Avenue Blasco Ibañez 15, 46010 Valencia, Spain
Gracián García-Martí, Department of Radiology, Quiron Hospital, Avenue Blasco Ibañez 14, 46010 Valencia, Spain
Luis Martí-Bonmatí, Radiology Unit, Medicine Department, University of Valencia, Avenue Blasco Ibañez 15, 46010 Valencia, Spain
M José Escartí, Julio Sanjuán, Psychiatry Service, Clinic University Hospital, Avenue Blasco Ibañez 15, 46010 Valencia, Spain
Author contributions: All authors have contributed sufficiently to this manuscript and meet the authorship standards established by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors; all authors and their institutions approved this work and agreed with the exposed data; Aguilar EJ wrote the first draft which was revised by the rest of the authors; all authors approved the final version and discussed the conception of the study and interpretation of data; García-Martí G acquired magnetic resonance data and performed data analysis; Martí-Bonmatí L designed the coincidence methodology and was supported by García-Martí G in technical aspects; Aguilar EJ, Escartí MJ and Sanjuán J are the psychiatrists in charge of patients.
Supported by The research network CIBERSAM
Correspondence to: Gracián García-Martí, Cp. D, PhD, CIBERSAM, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valencia, Avenue Blasco Ibañez 15, 46010 Valencia, Spain. gracian.garcia@gmail.com
Telephone: +34-96-3983379 Fax: +34-91-5570812
Received: January 4, 2012 Revised: March 31, 2012 Accepted: April 7, 2012 Published online: April 28, 2012
Abstract
AIM: To validate a multimodal [structural and functional magnetic resonance (MR)] approach as coincidence brain clusters are hypothesized to correlate with clinical severity of auditory hallucinations.
METHODS: Twenty-two patients meeting Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (fourth edition, DSM-IV) criteria for schizophrenia and experiencing persistent hallucinations together with 28 healthy controls were evaluated with structural and functional MR imaging with an auditory paradigm designed to replicate those emotions related to the patients’ hallucinatory experiences. Coincidence maps were obtained by combining structural maps of gray matter reduction with emotional functional increased activation. Abnormal areas were correlated with the brief psychiatric rating scale (BPRS) and the psychotic symptom rating scale (PSYRATS) scales.
RESULTS: The coincidence analysis showed areas with coexistence gray matter reductions and emotional activation in bilateral middle temporal and superior temporal gyri. Significant negative correlations between BPRS and PSYRATS scales were observed. BPRS scores were negatively correlated in the middle temporal gyrus (right) (t = 6.86, P = 0.001), while negative PSYRATS correlation affected regions in both the superior temporal gyrus (left) (t = 7.85, P = 0.001) and middle temporal gyrus (left) (t = 4.97, P = 0.002).
CONCLUSION: Our data identify left superior and middle temporal gyri as relevant areas for the understanding of auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia. The use of multimodal approaches, sharing structural and functional information, may demonstrate areas specifically linked to the severity of auditory hallucinations.
