Altered Hemispheric Asymmetry of Functional Hierarchy in Schizophrenia

• DOI: 10.3390/brainsci15030313
• Publication Date: 2025-03-17T11:49:57Z
• Authors: Yi Zhen; Hongwei Zheng; Yi Zheng; Zhiming Zheng; Yaqian Yang; Shaoting Tang
• Keywords: Functional specialization; Superior temporal gyrus

Background/Objectives: Schizophrenia is a severe psychiatric disorder characterized by deficits in perception and advanced cognitive functions. Prior studies have reported abnormal lateralization cortical morphology functional connectivity schizophrenia. However, it remains unclear whether schizophrenia affects hemispheric asymmetry the hierarchical organization of connectome. Methods: Here, we apply gradient mapping framework to connectome estimate first three gradients, which characterize unimodal-to-transmodal, visual-to-somatomotor, somatomotor/default mode-to-multiple demand hierarchy axes. We then assess between-group differences intra- inter-hemispheric asymmetries these gradients. Results: find that, compared healthy controls, patients with exhibit significantly altered across multiple networks, including dorsal attention, ventral visual, control networks. Region-level analyses further reveal that show several regions prefrontal gyrus, medial superior frontal somatomotor areas. Lastly, gradients can differentiate between controls predict severity positive symptoms Conclusions: Collectively, findings suggest associated hierarchy, providing novel perspectives for understanding atypical brain