Study of the inferior colliculus in patients with schizophrenia by magnetic resonance spectroscopy
*Corresponding author: Dr. Bernardo Celda Muñoz. Department of Physical Chemistry. University of Valencia. Doctor Moliner, 50. E-46100 Burjassot (Valencia).
E-mail: bernardo.celda@uv.es
INTRODUCTION. Previous studies have suggested morphometric and functional abnormalities in the inferior colliculus in patients with schizophrenia. Auditory hallucinations are one of the central symptoms in schizophrenia. In this complex and multidimensional event both attention and emotion are thought to play a key role.
AIM. To study metabolic changes in the inferior colliculus, a nucleus integrated in the auditory pathway, in patients with schizophrenia and the possible relationship with auditory hallucinations.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS. Magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging studies were performed in 30 right-handed patients with chronic schizophrenia (19 of them with auditory hallucinations) and 28 controls. A magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging 2D slice was acquired and the voxels representative of both inferior colliculi were selected. N-acetylaspartate (NAA), creatine (Cr) and choline (Cho) peak areas were measured.
RESULTS. The patients with schizophrenia showed a NAA/Cr significant reduction in the right inferior colliculus compared to the control subjects. The metabolic data in the right inferior colliculus were correlated with emotional auditory hallucinations items.
CONCLUSIONS. The contribution of the inferior colliculus on neural underpinnings of auditory hallucinations is particularly relevant for the right inferior colliculus and is centered on attention-emotional component of this symptom.
Objetivo Estudiar los cambios metabólicos en el colículo inferior, un núcleo integrado en la vía auditiva, en pacientes con esquizofrenia y su posible relación con las alucinaciones auditivas.
Sujetos y métodos Se llevaron a cabo estudios de espectroscopía de resonancia magnética en 30 pacientes diestros con esquizofrenia crónica (19 de ellos con alucinaciones auditivas) y 28 controles. Se adquirió una secuencia 2D de espectroscopía de resonancia magnética y se seleccionaron los vóxeles representativos de ambos colículos inferiores. Se calculó el área de los picos de N-acetilaspartato (NAA), creatina (Cr) y colina (Co).
Resultados Los pacientes con esquizofrenia mostraron una reducción significativa de NAA/Cr en el colículo inferior derecho comparados con los sujetos control. Los datos metabólicos en el colículo inferior derecho se correlacionaron con los ítems emocionales de las alucinaciones auditivas.
Conclusiones La contribución del colículo inferior a las bases neuronales de las alucinaciones auditivas es particularmente relevante para el colículo inferior derecho y se centra en el componente atencional-emocional de este síntoma.