Study On The Relationship Between Cognitive Impairment And Resting State Functional Connectivity In First-Episode Schizophrenia

Objectives:1.To investigate the cognitive impairment of patients with first-episode schizophrenia(FES),and the characteristics of hippocampal functional connectivity and default mode network functional connectivity at resting state.2.Based on the changes of hippocampal function connection and default network function connection in patients with first-episode schizophrenia,to analyse the correlation between cognitive function impairment and clinical symptoms.Methods:1.This study included 25 patients with FES who met the diagnostic criteria for ICD-10 schizophrenia by comparing patient data,and included 32 health controls(HC)matched with age,gender,and education level.2.The cognitive function of all subjects was assessed by the Chinese version of MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery(MCCB),and all patients were assessed for clinical symptoms using the Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale(PANSS).3.Selecting bilateral hippocampus as seed points for whole brain functional connection analysis,comparing the differences between patient group and control group;using the independent component analysis method for functional connection analysis,comparing the default network function connection difference between patient group and control group Further analysis of the patient group showed a statistically significant difference in functional connectivity between brain regions and cognitive and clinical symptoms.Results:1.Comparison of cognitive function data between the two groups showed that the scores of the nine tests and the seven cognitive dimensions in the MCCB were lower in the FES group than in the HC group,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).2.Compared with the HC group,the functional connectivity between the left HP and the right PHC,between the left HP and the right MFG were weakened in the FES group;the functional connectivity between the right HP and right PHC,left IFG,,the left SFG,the ACC and the PCC were weakened,and the connectivity with the right IPL is enhanced.Compared with the HC group,in the FES group’s DMN sub-network IC04,the connectivity of the left MTG,the right PCUN,the THA and the ACC were weakened,the functional connectivity in the right IPL of IC07,and the functional connections in the left ACC,left IFG,left SFG,and right MFG in IC13 were reduced;The functional connectivity in right IPL of IC07 and the CAU of IC13 were functionally connected enhanced.3.In the FES group,the functional connectivity on between the right HP and the left SFG was negatively correlated with the animal naming score in the MCCB(r=-0.439,p=0.028),and the functional connectivity between the right HP and ACC has a negative correlation with the reasoning and problem-solving test scores in the MCCB(r=-0.413,0.040).In IC07 of DMN,the functional connectivity of the right PCUN was negatively correlated with the P score of positive symptom scale of FES group(r=-0.421,0.036).In IC13 of DMN,the functional connectivity of right CAU in FES group has positive correlation with PANSS total score(r=0.431,0.031)and the general psychopathological symptom scale G score(r=0.505,0.010).Conclusion:1.FES patients have extensive cognitive impairment,and the main cognitive areas include information processing speed,verbal learning,visual learning,reasoning and problem solving,attention/alertness,working memory and social cognition.2.In the resting state,the bilateral hippocampus and the DMN of FES patients have functional connectivity abnormalities with multiple brain regions,which may be related to the impairment of functional connectivity mode.3.The functional connectivity between the right HP and the left SFG,between the right HP and ACC of FES patients may be related to the cognitive function impairment of the information processing speed and reasoning ability.4.In the DMN of FES patients,the functional connectivity of the right PCUN is weakened,which may affect the neuropathological mechanism of the patient’s positive symptoms;the functional connectivity of right CAU was enhanced,which is related to the general psychopathological symptoms.