SCHIZOPHRENIA: MR IMAGING STUDIES
Clinical Neuroscience Division, Laboratory of Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry,
VA Boston Healthcare System, Brockton Division
Martha E. Shenton, Ph.D., Robert W. McCarley, M.D, Ron Kikinis, M.D., Ferenc Jolesz, M.D.,
Paul Nestor, Ph.D., Dean Salisbury, Ph.D., Kiyoto Kasai, M.D., Toshiaki Onitsukato, M.D., Margaret Niznikiewicz, Ph.D.,
Cynthia Wible, Ph.D., James Levitt, M.D., Chandlee Dickey, M.D., Melissa Frumin, M.D., Kevin Spencer, Ph.D.,
Xiangyang Li, M.D., Martina Voglmaier, Ph.D., Lawrence Seidman, Ph.D.
The major theme of our research program is to relate the clinical phenomenology of schizophrenia to underlying neuroanatomical anomalies. Here, we have used the most advanced image processing techniques available, including automated algorithms and 3D surface rendering of neuroanatomy, to extract information from MR scans. Results using these techniques have shown that gray matter tissue reduction in the left posterior portion of the superior temporal gyrus is strongly correlated with the Thought Disorder Index, a clinical measure of thought disorder. This region includes Heschl's gyrus as well as the planum temporale, areas long considered important as a biological substrate of language. Left-lateralized medial temporal lobe structures have also been shown by our laboratory to be reduced in volume in schizophrenic patients relative to controls, i.e., anterior hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus. This work is being followed up in both schizotypal individuals and in first episode psychotic patients. Further work in developing automated segmentation tools is also in progress. The latter involves the incorporation of an interactive digital anatomy atlas of the brain, developed by our research group, for model driven automated segmentation. Other ongoing research studies include: (1) the investigation of shape abnormalities in 3D brain structures, abnormalities that may be particularly relevant to neurodevelopmental anomalies in schizophrenia; (2) diffusion tensor imaging studies to investigate white matter fiber tract abnormalities in schizophrenia; and, (3) fMRI studies to investigate both structural and functional brain abnormalities.
Key Words. Schizophrenia, Schizotypal Personality Disorder, MRI, Temporal Lobe Abnormalities, MR Diffusion Tensor Imaging, Automated Segmentation, MR Image Processing.
Grant Support. Support for this work comes from the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Institute of Health, the Veterans Affairs, and private foundations, including: NIMH R01 MH50740 Computerized Image Analyses of MR Scans in Schizophrenia (MES), Senior Mentor for the Stanley Scholars Program (MES), which provides support for students to conduct hands-on research, a Veteran Merit Review Award to use MR Brain Diffusion Tensor Imaging to Study Schizophrenia (MES), and two individual projects (MES) for NIH P41 RR13218 Neuroimaging Analysis Center (FJ). Career Awards: NIMH KO2 MH01110 Research Scientist Development Award (MES). Other support includes: NIMH RO1MH40,700, Neurophysiological Studies of Schizophrenia (RWM); RO1 MH52807, Biological Basis of Schizotypal Personality Disorder (RWM); Veterans Administration Merit Review, MRI Anatomy of Schizophrenia (RWM).
Project Sites. Department of Psychiatry, Brain Imaging Laboratory, VA Boston Healthcare System, Brockton Division; Brain Potential Imaging Laboratory, Massachusetts Mental Health Center, Boston, MA; Surgical Planning Laboratory and Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA; Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA.
Project Director. Martha E. Shenton, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology and Director, Clinical Neuroscience Division, Laboratory of Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston VA Healthcare System, Brockton Division. Mail Address: Psychiatry 116A, 940 Belmont Street, Brockton, MA 02301. Email: martha_Shenton@http://hms.harvard.edu
Contact Person. Marie Fairbanks, Departmental Administrator. Tel. No. (508) 583-4500, X2479. FAX. (508) 586-0894. E-Mail Address: marie_fairbanks@http://hms.harvard.edu
Training Opportunities. Currently we have two fellows, two senior honors thesis students, a large number of junior faculty, and several full-time Research Assistants working in our laboratory. There are numerous opportunities for research training at all levels and we encourage interested undergraduates, graduate students, and fellows to join us in our research endeavors. Please visit us at our website: http://splweb.bwh.harvard.edu:8000/pages/projects/schiz/index.html
Representative Publications.
Shenton ME, Kikinis R, McCarley RW, Metcalf D, Tieman J, Jolesz FA. Application of automated MRI volumetric measurement techniques to the ventricular system in schizophrenics and normal controls. Schizophr Res 1991; 5:103-113.
Shenton ME, Kikinis R, Jolesz FA, Pollak SD, LeMay M, Wible CG, Hokama H, Martin J, Metcalf D, Coleman M, McCarley RW. Abnormalities of the left temporal lobe and thought disorder in schizophrenia: a quantitative magnetic resonance imaging study. New Eng. J. Med. 1992; 327:604-612.
Kwon JS, Shenton ME, Hirayasu Y, Fischer IA, Dickey CC, Kikinis R, McCarley RW. An MRI study of cavum septi pellucidi in schizophrenia, affective disorder, and schizotypal personality disorder. Am J Psychiatry 1998;155:509-515.
Niznikiewicz MA, Donnino R, McCarley RW, Iosifescu DV, Ohta H, Levitt JJ, O'Donnell BF, Nestor PG, Wible CG, Kikinis R, Jolesz FA, Shenton ME. Abnormal angular gyrus asymmetry in schizophrenia. Am J Psychiatry 2000;157:428-437.
Shenton ME, Dickey CC, Frumin M, McCarley RW. A review of MRI findings in schizophrenia. Schizophr Res 2001;49:1-52.