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Neuroanatomical changes in people with high schizotypy: relationship to glutamate levels

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 December 2017

Gemma Modinos ,
Alice Egerton ,
Anna McLaughlin ,
Katrina McMullen ,
Veena Kumari ,
David J. Lythgoe ,
Gareth J. Barker ,
André Aleman  and
Steve C. R. Williams
Gemma Modinos*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
Alice Egerton
Affiliation:
Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
Anna McLaughlin
Affiliation:
Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
Katrina McMullen
Affiliation:
Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
Veena Kumari
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
David J. Lythgoe
Affiliation:
Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
Gareth J. Barker
Affiliation:
Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
André Aleman
Affiliation:
Department of Neuroscience, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
Steve C. R. Williams
Affiliation:
Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
*
Author for correspondence: Gemma Modinos, E-mail: gemma.modinos@kcl.ac.uk
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Abstract

Background

Cortical glutamatergic dysfunction is thought to be fundamental for psychosis development, and may lead to structural degeneration through excitotoxicity. Glutamate levels have been related to gray matter volume (GMV) alterations in people at ultra-high risk of psychosis, and we previously reported GMV changes in individuals with high schizotypy (HS), which refers to the expression of schizophrenia-like characteristics in healthy people. This study sought to examine whether GMV changes in HS subjects are related to glutamate levels.

Methods

We selected 22 healthy subjects with HS and 23 healthy subjects with low schizotypy (LS) based on their rating on a self-report questionnaire for psychotic-like experiences. Glutamate levels were measured in the bilateral anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and GMV was assessed using voxel-based morphometry.

Results

Subjects with HS showed GMV decreases in the rolandic operculum/superior temporal gyrus (pFWE = 0.045). Significant increases in GMV were also detected in HS, in the precuneus (pFWE = 0.043), thereby replicating our previous finding in a separate cohort, as well as in the ACC (pFWE = 0.041). While the HS and LS groups did not differ in ACC glutamate levels, in HS subjects ACC glutamate was negatively correlated with ACC GMV (pFWE = 0.026). Such association was absent in LS.

Conclusions

Our study shows that GMV findings in schizotypy are related to glutamate levels, supporting the hypothesis that glutamatergic function may lead to structural changes associated with the expression of psychotic-like experiences.

Keywords

Schizotypyglutamategray matter volumesMRIMRSpsychosis
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 48 , Issue 11 , August 2018 , pp. 1880 - 1889
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2017 

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