Evidence of shared and distinct functional and structural brain signatures in schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Yuhui Du, Shanxi University; Zening Fu, Emory University; Ying Xing, Shanxi University; Dongdong Lin, Emory University; Godfrey Pearlson, Yale University; Peter Kochunov, University of Maryland; Elliot Hong, University of Maryland; Shile Qi, Emory University; Mustafa Salman, Emory University; Anees Abrol, Emory University; Vince Calhoun, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2021-09-14
• Publisher: NATURE PORTFOLIO
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © The Author(s) 2021
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s42003-021-02592-2
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
• Volume: 4
• Issue: 1
• Start Page: 1073
• End Page: 1073
• Grant/Funding Information: This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant number 62076157 and 61703253, to Y.D.), Fund Program for the Scientific Activities of Selected Returned Overseas Professionals in Shanxi Province (to Y.D.), the 1331 Engineering Project of Shanxi Province of China, and the National Institutes of Health grant (Grant number R01MH118695, to V.D.C.).
• Keywords: Multidisciplinary Sciences; INFORMATION; CEREBELLUM; BRAINNETOME; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; GRAY-MATTER; Science & Technology - Other Topics; ABNORMALITIES; DEFAULT MODE NETWORK; CONNECTIVITY; BIPOLAR DISORDER; PSYCHOSIS; Biology; Life Sciences & Biomedicine - Other Topics; Science & Technology; INDIVIDUALS
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Mental Health

Abstract

Schizophrenia (SZ) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) share considerable clinical features and intertwined historical roots. It is greatly needed to explore their similarities and differences in pathophysiologic mechanisms. We assembled a large sample size of neuroimaging data (about 600 SZ patients, 1000 ASD patients, and 1700 healthy controls) to study the shared and unique brain abnormality of the two illnesses. We analyzed multi-scale brain functional connectivity among functional networks and brain regions, intra-network connectivity, and cerebral gray matter density and volume. Both SZ and ASD showed lower functional integration within default mode and sensorimotor domains, but increased interaction between cognitive control and default mode domains. The shared abnormalties in intra-network connectivity involved default mode, sensorimotor, and cognitive control networks. Reduced gray matter volume and density in the occipital gyrus and cerebellum were observed in both illnesses. Interestingly, ASD had overall weaker changes than SZ in the shared abnormalities. Interaction between visual and cognitive regions showed disorder-unique deficits. In summary, we provide strong neuroimaging evidence of the convergent and divergent changes in SZ and ASD that correlated with clinical features.