Altered intrinsic neural activity and its molecular analyses in first-episode schizophrenia with auditory verbal hallucinations

• DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1478963
• Publication Date: 2024-10-29T06:10:42Z
• Authors: Ziyu Wang; Kangkang Xue; Yimeng Kang; Zijun Liu; Jingliang Cheng; Yan Zhang; Yarui Wei
• Keywords: Inferior frontal gyrus

Background Auditory verbal hallucinations (AVHs) are one of the signature positive symptoms schizophrenia, affecting a substantial portion patients with schizophrenia. These seriously impact lives patients, resulting in social burden. Recent studies have shown significant correlation between abnormal local brain activity and neurobiological mechanisms AVHs. However, it is not fully clear whether altered intrinsic schizophrenia AVHs correlated specific neurotransmitter systems. Methods We included 50 first-episode, drug-naïve AVHs, without (NAVHs), age- sex-matched healthy controls (HCs). The amplitude low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) was utilized to explore AVH group. Subsequently, we spatially ALFF maps using JuSpace. Results In our study, compared HCs, group exhibited significantly reduced multiple regions, mainly including left precuneus, bilateral supplementary motor areas, paracentral lobules, precentral gyri, postcentral gyri. NAVH showed inferior occipital gyrus, calcarine lingual gyrus HCs. Furthermore, higher right frontal Additionally, these alterations were closely related three neurotransmitters, dopamine, serotonin norepinephrine. Conclusion link neurotransmitters contributing comprehensive understanding pathophysiological processes treatment pathways underlying