Resting-state networks and social cognition in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder (María Queipo, psychiatrist Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valladolid).
Review of the article “Linking resting-state networks and social cognition in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder” (Jimenez et al., 2019; Hum Brain Mapp).
Individuals with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder show alterations in the functional connectivity of neural networks during resting-state. However, these resting-state network disruptions (RSNs) have not been compared between the two disorders. The impact of these connectivity alterations on social cognition has not yet been established.
In this study, 48 patients with schizophrenia, 46 with bipolar disorder and 48 healthy controls completed functional MRI studies and using a brain atlas-based approach examined the connectivity of 9 RSNs, with results subsequently analyzed using a nonparametric permutation statistical test and associated with social cognition test scores in 3 domains: perception and emotion management and mentalization.
Differences between groups were observed in three networks: medial visual area, lateral visual area and sensorimotor. Individuals with schizophrenia showed reduced connectivity relative to healthy controls in all three networks. In healthy controls, a positive correlation was found in visual network connectivity with the mentalizing domain. No correlation was found for any of the visual networks and schizophrenia.
The results highlight the role of early visual processing impairment in social deficits in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, however people with bipolar disorder seem to compensate for this effect.