Anatomical Variations in the Insular Cortex in Individuals at a Clinical High-risk State for Psychosis and Patients with Schizophrenia

Overview

Journal Front Psychiatry

Specialty Psychiatry

Date 2023 Jul 21

PMID 37476540

Authors

Tsutomu Takahashi

Daiki Sasabayashi

Yoichiro Takayanagi

Yuko Higuchi

Yuko Mizukami

Yukiko Akasaki

Shimako Nishiyama

Atsushi Furuichi

Haruko Kobayashi

Yusuke Yuasa

Noa Tsujii

Kyo Noguchi

Michio Suzuki

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Introduction: Since the number of insular gyri is higher in schizophrenia patients, it has potential as a marker of early neurodevelopmental deviations. However, it currently remains unknown whether the features of the insular gross anatomy are similar between schizophrenia patients and individuals at risk of psychosis. Furthermore, the relationship between anatomical variations in the insular cortex and cognitive function has not yet been clarified.

Methods: The gross anatomical features (i.e., the number of gyri and development pattern of each gyrus) of the insular cortex were examined using magnetic resonance imaging, and their relationships with clinical characteristics were investigated in 57 subjects with an at-risk mental state (ARMS) and 63 schizophrenia patients in comparison with 61 healthy controls.

Results: The number of insular gyri bilaterally in the anterior subdivision was higher in the ARMS and schizophrenia groups than in the control group. The schizophrenia group was also characterized by a higher number of insular gyri in the left posterior subdivision. A well-developed right middle short insular gyrus was associated with symptom severity in first-episode schizophrenia patients, whereas chronic schizophrenia patients with a well-developed left accessory gyrus were characterized by less severe cognitive impairments in motor and executive functions. The features of the insular gross anatomy were not associated with clinical characteristics in the ARMS group.

Discussion: The features of the insular gross anatomy that were shared in the ARMS and schizophrenia groups may reflect a vulnerability to psychosis that may be attributed to anomalies in the early stages of neurodevelopment. However, the contribution of the insular gross anatomy to the clinical characteristics of schizophrenia may differ according to illness stages.

Citing Articles

Gross anatomical features of the insular cortex in affective disorders.

Takahashi T, Sasabayashi D, Yucel M, Whittle S, Suzuki M, Pantelis C Front Psychiatry. 2024; 15:1482990.

PMID: 39717373 PMC: 11663932. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1482990.

The insula: Leveraging cellular and systems-level research to better understand its roles in health and schizophrenia.

Kittleson A, Woodward N, Heckers S, Sheffield J Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2024; 160:105643.

PMID: 38531518 PMC: 11796093. DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105643.

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