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Psychiatry Medical Schizophrenia Bulletin - current issue
<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">Abstract</div><div class="boxTitle">Background and Hypothesis</div>Previous studies on Empathic Accuracy Task (EAT) suggested patients with schizophrenia exhibited altered brain activations in the precuneus, middle frontal gyrus, and thalamus. However, it remains unclear whether individuals with schizotypy would exhibit similar alterations of brain activations associated with EAT. This study aimed to examine the relationships between schizotypy and intersubject correlation (ISC) during EAT.<div class="boxTitle">Study Design</div>Forty-seven college students undertook the Chinese version of EAT in a 3T MRI scanner. The Chapman Social Anhedonia Scale (CSAS) and Perceptual Aberration Scale (PAS) were used to capture negative and positive schizotypy, respectively. We adopted GLM analysis, ISC analyses of brain activation, and dynamic functional connectivity during EAT to examine its association with dimensional schizotypy and self-report empathy.<div class="boxTitle">Study Results</div>Regardless of schizotypy scores, brain activations in the middle occipital cortex, precuneus, lingual gyrus, paracentral gyrus, and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) were associated with participants’ empathic accuracy, while strong ISC of brain activations were found in bilateral superior temporal gyri (STG). Negative schizotypy was associated with ISC of brain activation in the precentral gyrus and dynamic connectivity between the STG and ACC, both of which further mediated the associations between negative schizotypy and self-report affective empathy.<div class="boxTitle">Conclusions</div>These preliminary findings suggest that weaker intersubject synchronization of brain activation in the precentral gyrus and dynamic connectivity between the STG and ACC is related to negative schizotypy. Our findings may shed light on the underlying neural mechanisms of impaired social cognition in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder.</span>
<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">Abstract</div><div class="boxTitle">Background and Hypothesis</div>Schizotypy is a risk phenotype for the psychosis spectrum and pilot studies suggest a biological continuum underlying this phenotype across health and disease. It is unclear whether this biological continuum might include brain structural associations in networks altered in schizophrenia spectrum disorders, such as the fronto-thalamo-striatal system or nodes of the default mode network, such as the precuneus.<div class="boxTitle">Study Design</div>In this study, we analyze a large multi-center cohort of 673 nonclinical subjects phenotyped for schizotypal traits (using the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire-Brief version) using tract-based spatial statistics of diffusion tensor imaging data, as well as voxel-based morphometry (VBM) analysis of regional brain volumes and gyrification analysis of early neurodevelopmental markers of cortical folding on T1-weighted MRI.<div class="boxTitle">Study Results</div>We identify significant (<span style="font-style:italic;">P</span> < .05 family-wise error corrected) associations of schizotypy with major fiber tract fractional anisotropy: positive (cognitive-perceptual) schizotypy correlated negatively with the left anterior thalamic radiation (a principal thalamo-frontal projection), left uncinate fasciculus and cingulum, while negative (interpersonal) schizotypy correlated positively with left anterior thalamic radiation, cingulum, and the anterior corpus callosum, and disorganized schizotypy correlated negatively with right cingulum, and superior and inferior longitudinal fasciculi. VBM analyses showed a negative correlation of gray matter with negative schizotypy in the left cerebellum, while gyrification in the inferior parietal cortex correlated positively with negative (interpersonal) schizotypy.<div class="boxTitle">Conclusions</div>These findings pave the way for a neural network conceptualization of schizotypy as a psychosis proneness trait across the general population, showing associations with fronto-subcortical and frontotemporal systems as structural substrates of this risk phenotype.</span>
<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">Abstract</div><div class="boxTitle">Background</div>Alterations of white matter microstructure have been reported in the psychosis spectrum. However, the development of these alterations during preclinical stages remains poorly understood. The framework proposed by schizotypy research as the personality base for liability to develop psychosis spectrum disorders offers 3 interconnected dimensions thought to impact neurodevelopment, affording an opportunity to investigate premorbid risk.<div class="boxTitle">Design</div>In this study, 102 typically developing individuals aged between 12 and 20 y.o. at baseline were scanned longitudinally between 1 and 4 times, and schizotypy was assessed at each visit. Ten white matter tracts were reconstructed using TRACULA, and mixed model regression was used to characterize age-related changes in main diffusion parameters (ie, fractional anisotropy [FA]). Estimated longitudinal trajectories of the 3 dimensions of schizotypy were tested for different trajectories of diffusion parameters as a function of age.<div class="boxTitle">Results</div>Positive schizotypy trajectory was the most strongly decreased when FA in the anterior thalamic radiation (atr-FA) increased in young adults compared with a moderate decrease in younger participants. Furthermore, in adolescents, disorganized schizotypy followed a steep increase when atr-FA increased, while in the older participants, it decreased as a function of atr-FA. Independent of age, intraindividual positive schizotypy was further longitudinally negatively associated with FA in the cingulate gyrus, and disorganized schizotypy was positively associated with FA in the superior longitudinal fasciculus.<div class="boxTitle">Conclusions</div>Given that abnormalities in fronto-thalamo-cingulate subcircuit are present in schizophrenia and converters to psychosis, our results support the hypothesis of schizotypy as a personality base risk to develop psychosis.</span>
<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">Abstract</div><div class="boxTitle">Background and Hypothesis</div>Social anhedonia is a core feature of schizotypy and correlates significantly with social functioning and range adaptation. Range adaptation refers to representing a stimulus value based on its relative position in the range of pre-experienced values. This study aimed to examine the resting-state neural correlates of range adaptation and its associations with social anhedonia and social functioning.<div class="boxTitle">Study Design</div>In study 1, 60 participants completed resting-state magnetic resonance spectroscopy and fMRI scans. Range adaptation was assessed by a valid effort-based decision-making paradigm. Self-reported questionnaires was used to measure social anhedonia and social functioning. Study 2 utilized 26 pairs of participants with high (HSoA) and low levels of social anhedonia (LSoA) to examine the group difference in range adaptation’s neural correlates and its relationship with social anhedonia and social functioning. An independent sample of 40 pairs of HSoA and LSoA was used to verify the findings.<div class="boxTitle">Study Results</div>Study 1 showed that range adaptation correlated with excitation–inhibition balance (EIB) and ventral prefrontal cortex (vPFC) functional connectivity, which in turn correlating positively with social functioning. Range adaptation was specifically determined by the EIB via mediation of ventral-medial prefrontal cortex functional connectivities. Study 2 found HSoA and LSoA participants exhibiting comparable EIB and vPFC connectivities. However, EIB and vPFC connectivities were negatively correlated with social anhedonia and social functioning in HSoA participants.<div class="boxTitle">Conclusions</div>EIB and vPFC functional connectivity is putative neural correlates for range adaptation. Such neural correlates are associated with social anhedonia and social functioning.</span>
<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">Abstract</div><div class="boxTitle">Background and Hypothesis</div>Visual impairments have been proposed as risk factors for psychotic symptoms and illnesses. Visual impairments can considerably impact people’s daily lives, but little is known about the impact and diagnostic sensitivity of such abnormalities for schizotypal personality traits. This study aims to explore possible relationships between schizotypy and visual acuity (VA), contrast sensitivity, and parameters that describe eye movements and visual processing times.<div class="boxTitle">Study Design</div>Schizotypy was assessed in 37 participants with the Multidimensional Schizotypy Scale-Brief (MSS-B). For the visual function measures, we used the Acuity-Plus test and the new Eye Movement and Integrated Saccade Latency (EMAIL) test. The latter measures oculomotor performance during an eye movement task, including the visual processing time at the end of each saccade.<div class="boxTitle">Study Results</div>The disorganized dimension of the schizotypy scores predicted VA when measured with black optotypes. Additionally, we found that participants who had higher disorganized scores showed an increased response variability, as assessed through the goodness of fit measure from the EMAIL test.<div class="boxTitle">Conclusions</div>These results from this exploratory study extend upon earlier findings from both general and patient samples, highlighting the clinical and subclinical importance of understanding how spatial vision can be affected in people with schizotypal disorganized behavior.</span>
<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">Abstract</div><div class="boxTitle">Background</div>New theoretical and measurement models related to Bayesian networks can usefully be implemented to enrich our understanding of psychosis risk. The present study aims to explore, using a directed acyclic graph (DAG), the putative causal relationship within schizotypal facets, as well as between schizotypal dimensions, psychopathology, and reflective functioning (RF) impairments, in a representative sample of non-clinical adolescents.<div class="boxTitle">Study Design</div>A sample of 1476 adolescents from the general population participated in a cross-sectional survey. The Oviedo Schizotypy Assessment Questionnaire-Revised, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, and the Reflective Functioning Questionnaire (RFQ) were used.<div class="boxTitle">Study Results</div>Schizotypal traits were positively associated with psychopathology and hypomentalizing. Putative causal relationships are presented between Reality distortion, Social disorganization, and Anhedonia. In addition, estimated DAG suggests that schizotypal dimensions influence psychopathology and RF impairments.<div class="boxTitle">Conclusions</div>The findings suggest different pathways connecting schizotypal traits, mental health problems, and RF impairments during adolescence. The use of probabilistic DAG may allow us to make more robust conclusions about the direction of causation and to unravel potentially complex causal chains in the study of psychosis risk.</span>
<span class="paragraphSection">Schizotypy has established itself as a valuable concept in the study of the schizophrenia/psychosis spectrum, as well as a major current risk phenotype relevant to early detection and intervention.<sup><a href="#CIT0001" class="reflinks">1</a>,<a href="#CIT0002" class="reflinks">2</a></sup> With the significant rise in publications related to schizotypy over the last decade, there is an increasing focus towards understanding the neuroscience behind the phenotype, and how this relates to schizophrenia.</span>
<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">Abstract</div><div class="boxTitle">Background and Hypothesis</div>Mental time travel (MTT) is a crucial ability for daily life. Personal goal-related MTT events has stronger phenomenological characteristics than personal goal-unrelated ones, ie, the “personal goal-advantage effect”. However, it remains unclear whether this effect is impacted in individuals with high schizotypal traits (HST) and the neural correlates of this effect have yet to be elucidated. The present study aimed to fill these knowledge gaps. We hypothesized that HST would show a reduced “personal goal-advantage effect” in MTT and would exhibit altered relationships with resting-state functional connectivity.<div class="boxTitle">Study Design</div>In Study 1, 37 HST and 40 individuals with low schizotypal traits (LST) were recruited. Participants generated MTT events with personal goal-related and personal goal-unrelated cues. In Study 2, 39 HST and 38 LST were recruited, they completed the same behavioral task and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanning.<div class="boxTitle">Study Results</div>Both Study 1 and Study 2 revealed that HST exhibited reduced “personal goal-advantage effect” on MTT specificity. Moreover, Study 2 showed that compared with LST, HST exhibited altered association between the “personal goal-advantage effect” and functional connectivity (ie, between the right precuneus and the left postcentral gyrus and “personal goal-advantage effect” on emotional valence, between the left hippocampus and the right temporal fusiform gyrus and “personal goal-advantage effect” on emotional intensity).<div class="boxTitle">Conclusions</div>These findings suggest that HST exhibit a reduced “personal goal-advantage effect” in MTT specificity and altered neural correlates related to this effect. The “personal goal-advantage effect” may be a potential target for intervention in HST.</span>
<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">Abstract</div><div class="boxTitle">Background and Hypothesis</div>Evidence suggests that emotion regulation is related to schizotypal traits and negative affect in adults. Few studies examined the interplay among these constructs in school-aged children. We examined the complex relationship between schizotypal traits, emotion regulation, and negative affect in children aged 9–12 years.<div class="boxTitle">Study Design</div>One-thousand-and-nineteen children completed the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire—children (SPQ-C), the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21), and the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire for Children and Adolescence (ERQ-CA). Using subscales of these measures as nodes, we estimated a partial correlation network. We estimated a Directed Acyclic Graph to explore the putative directional relationship between schizotypal traits, emotion regulation, and negative affect. Node and bridge centrality indices were estimated.<div class="boxTitle">Results</div>We found positive correlations between schizotypal dimensions and negative affect (depressed mood, anxiety, and stress) in the network. Emotion suppression was positively correlated with interpersonal and disorganized schizotypal dimensions, and negative affect. Emotion reappraisal was positively correlated with the cognitive–perceptual dimension and negatively correlated with interpersonal schizotypal traits, depressed mood, and stress. Stress showed higher strength than all nodes except depressed mood, and stress showed the highest expected influence (EI). The Bayesian network revealed that schizotypal traits appeared to be driven by stress. Network comparisons preliminarily showed higher EI for emotion reappraisal in girls’ than boys’ networks, and significant impacts of age and schizotypy levels on network patterns.<div class="boxTitle">Conclusion</div>Children with higher levels of schizotypal traits may have more negative affect and suppression. Stress appears to drive schizotypal traits.</span>
<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">Abstract</div><div class="boxTitle">Background and Hypothesis</div>Consistent with diathesis-stress models, psychosis research has focused on genetic moderation of <span style="font-style:italic;">adverse</span> environmental exposures. In contrast, the Differential Susceptibility (DS) model suggests that the same genetic variants that increase risk-inducing effects of adverse experiences also enhance beneficial effects from positive experiences. This study examined whether individuals with high genetic susceptibility to the environment showed differential psychotic-like and affective reactivity in response to positive and negative events in daily life.<div class="boxTitle">Study Design</div>Experience sampling methodology assessed context (positive and stressful) and momentary levels of paranoia, psychotic-like experiences (PLE), and positive (PA) and negative affect (NA) in 217 non-clinical adults oversampled for schizotypy. Linear mixed models examined whether Polygenic Risk Scores of Environmental Sensitivity (PRS-ES) moderated the impact of current context on subsequent experiences.<div class="boxTitle">Study Results</div>PRS-ES moderated positive, but not stressful, context on subsequent levels of momentary paranoia, NA, and PA, but not PLE. Genetic and environmental (G × E) interactions indicated diathesis-stress at lower thresholds of PRS-ES, but a DS model at the highest threshold of the PRS-ES. Participants with elevated PRS-ES showed increased paranoia and NA and decreased PA in subsequent assessments when reporting low levels of positive situations, but also decreased paranoia and NA and increased PA when rating contexts as positive.<div class="boxTitle">Conclusions</div>Findings support the influence of genetic sensitivity to the environment on psychotic-like and affective reactivity in daily life, particularly in response to positive contexts. This highlights the transdiagnostic protective role of positive experiences and informs ecological momentary interventions.</span>
<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">Abstract</div><div class="boxTitle">Background and Hypothesis</div>Schizotypy is a well-established phenotype for psychosis proneness and risk. Yet, its genetic underpinnings and relations to genetic bases of the schizophrenia spectrum are not well understood owing to conflicting findings. In a deep phenotyping approach, we hypothesized that genetic markers of risk for and to schizophrenia are differentially associated with (trait-level) dimensions of schizotypy and (state-level) prodromal symptoms.<div class="boxTitle">Study Design</div>In 367 (130 male, 237 female) psychiatrically healthy young adults, we assessed multiple schizotypy instruments (OLIFE, SPQ-B, Multidimensional Schizotypy Scales), aggregated into composite scores, and a measure of prodromal symptoms (PQ-16). Those were tested for direct and interactive associations with the polygenic risk score (PRS) for schizophrenia and a novel PRS for resilience to schizophrenia.<div class="boxTitle">Study Results</div>Both prodromal symptom number (<span style="font-style:italic;">rho</span> = 0.16, <span style="font-style:italic;">p</span><sub>corr</sub> = .018) and distress (<span style="font-style:italic;">rho</span> = 0.14, <span style="font-style:italic;">p</span><sub>corr</sub> = .027) were positively related to the schizophrenia PRS. Positive schizotypy showed a similar association but did not remain significant after correction (<span style="font-style:italic;">rho</span> = 0.11, <span style="font-style:italic;">p</span><sub>corr</sub> = .082). Schizophrenia PRS and disorganized schizotypy had a negative interactive effect on prodromal symptom distress (<span style="font-style:italic;">b</span> = −0.10, <span style="font-style:italic;">p</span><sub>corr</sub> = .048). The resilience score did not show any significant associations with any of the measures.<div class="boxTitle">Conclusions</div>These results further support the idea of a (partially) shared genetic basis of schizophrenia and nonclinical, predominantly positive expressions of the psychosis spectrum but also indicate relevant distinctions between the 2, possibly related to other modulating factors or general (transdiagnostic) psychopathological risk. In line with previous findings, effects seem to be more robust for state- than trait-level markers, but these may also be influencing each other.</span>
<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">Abstract</div><div class="boxTitle">Background and Hypothesis</div>Subclinical psychotic symptoms (also known as <span style="font-style:italic;">psychotic experiences</span> comprising positive features only, and <span style="font-style:italic;">schizotypy</span> comprising positive, negative, and disorganized features) are important markers of schizophrenia liability. Different assessment methods detect different sources of meaningful variance and are vulnerable to different biases and sources of measurement error. Whereas interview-rated psychotic symptoms in childhood are known to predict adult schizophrenia diagnosis, the predictive value of parent-rated psychotic symptoms remains unknown. We tested whether clinician-rated psychotic symptoms and parent-rated positive, negative, and disorganized schizotypy in early adolescence are nonredundant predictors of schizophrenia diagnosis by age 38 years.<div class="boxTitle">Study Design</div>In a representative birth cohort (<span style="font-style:italic;">n</span> = 1037) from Dunedin, New Zealand, psychotic symptoms were assessed by clinical interview at age 11 years, schizotypy was assessed by parent or caregiver ratings at ages 13- and 15 years, and lifetime schizophrenia diagnosis was assessed throughout adulthood until age 38 years. We tested for redundancy using bootstrapped multivariable logistic regression.<div class="boxTitle">Study Results</div>Clinician-rated psychotic symptoms at age 11 predicted adult schizophrenia diagnosis (<span style="font-style:italic;">OR</span> = 2.68, 95% <span style="font-style:italic;">CI</span> = 1.42, 5.06), as did parent-rated total schizotypy (<span style="font-style:italic;">OR</span> = 1.83, 95% <span style="font-style:italic;">CI</span> = 1.42, 2.36). In univariable models, clinician-rated psychotic experiences and parent-rated positive, negative, and disorganized schizotypy were significant predictors of schizophrenia diagnosis. In multivariable models where clinician- and parent-rated scores were entered, only parent-rated negative and disorganized schizotypy did not predict adult schizophrenia diagnosis.<div class="boxTitle">Conclusions</div>Parent-rated schizotypy and clinician-rated subclinical psychotic symptoms are valid, nonredundant indicators of lifetime risk for schizophrenia.</span>
<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">Abstract</div><div class="boxTitle">Objective</div>Schizotypy as a psychosis proneness marker has facilitated the study of schizophrenia spectrum models, linking phenotypic psychosis risk to brain structural and functional variation. However, association studies to structural connectome markers are limited and often do not consider relations to genetic risk. We tested the hypothesis that dimensions of schizotypy (rather than overall phenotype risk burden) are related to fiber tract integrity and that this is moderated by polygenic schizophrenia risk (or resilience).<div class="boxTitle">Design</div>In a cohort of 346 psychiatrically healthy subjects, we obtained diffusion tensor imaging, schizotypy using O-LIFE (Oxford-Liverpool Inventory of Feelings and Experiences), and polygenic risk scores (PRS) for schizophrenia risk and resilience to schizophrenia. Using FSL and TBSS (tract-based spatial statistics), we first analyzed the association between O-LIFE and fractional anisotropy (FA) for the anterior thalamic radiation, uncinate fascicle, and cingulum bundle, as well as moderation analyses with PRS scores.<div class="boxTitle">Results</div>O-LIFE dimensions were differentially associated with structural connectivity, in particular, negative schizotypy positively to right uncinate FA, positive schizotypy negatively to right cingulum and disorganized schizotypy negatively to left cingulum. In disorganized schizotypy the association was moderated by schizophrenia PRS.<div class="boxTitle">Conclusions</div>Our results support a neurobiological continuum model of structural connectivity across psychosis proneness, emphasizing differential association with different schizotypy facets. Genetic schizophrenia risk, however, appears to impact only some of these associations, highlighting the need for further studies to understand the contribution of other genetic and/or environmental factors.</span>
<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">Abstract</div><div class="boxTitle">Background and Hypothesis</div>Gene-by-environment (GxE) studies in psychosis have exclusively focused on negative exposures. However, evidence supports the resilience-enhancing effect of positive factors on psychosis outcome. The Differential Susceptibility (DS) model proposes that common genetic variants may confer not only disproportionate responsiveness to negative environments, but also greater sensitivity to positive, resilience-enhancing conditions. This study is the first to apply the DS model to the expression of subclinical psychosis, employing polygenic risk scores of environmental sensitivity (PRS-ES). PRS-ES were hypothesized to moderate, in a DS manner, associations between childhood adversity and psychosis, affective, and anxiety dimensions in young adults. An exploratory goal examined whether PRS for psychotic-like experiences (PRS-PLE) also showed DS patterns.<div class="boxTitle">Study Design</div>PRS, schizotypy, PLE, depression, anxiety, and childhood adversity ratings were obtained for 197 nonclinical young adults. LEGIT software for testing competitive-confirmatory GxE models was employed.<div class="boxTitle">Study Results</div>Results largely supported DS: Individuals high on PRS-ES showed increased subclinical psychosis, depression, and anxiety if they had experienced elevated childhood adversity, and lower symptoms if exposed to low levels of adversity as compared with those with low PRS-ES. Similarly, PRS-PLE moderated the effect of adversity on PLE, positive schizotypy, and depression following the DS model, but only PRS-ES moderation on PLE survived statistical correction.<div class="boxTitle">Conclusions</div>Our results suggest that genetic DS to the environment is relevant to psychosis, depression, and anxiety. Current debates on reconceptualization of genetic “risk” and resilience may benefit from this insight that support optimistic views on preventative efforts for early detection and intervention.</span>
<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">Abstract</div><div class="boxTitle">Background and Hypothesis</div>Although the psychometric high-risk method based on schizotypy has proven to be a highly cost-effective strategy for unraveling etiological factors for schizophrenia-spectrum disorders, there is a paucity of longitudinal studies with nonclinical populations. This study analyzed the predictive validity of positive and negative schizotypy in a longitudinal project (Barcelona Longitudinal Investigation of Schizotypy; BLISS) spanning a total of 7.8 years.<div class="boxTitle">Study Design</div>At Time 1 (T1), 547 college students completed the Wisconsin Schizotypy Scales. We re-assessed subsamples (oversampled for high schizotypy to ensure variability) at 4 re-assessments. This study reports psychopathology, psychological, and functional outcomes assessed with self-report and interview (CAARMS, Negative Symptom Manual, SCID-II Cluster A) measures at T4 (<span style="font-style:italic;">n</span> = 89; 4.4 years after T1) and self-report measures at T5 (<span style="font-style:italic;">n</span> = 169; 7.8 years after T1). T1 positive and negative schizotypy were entered simultaneously as predictors in linear regression models.<div class="boxTitle">Study Results</div>Positive schizotypy predicted positive symptoms at T4, whereas negative schizotypy predicted interview-rated negative symptoms and schizoid personality traits (even when controlling for mood and avoidant personality), and impaired social and global functioning. Both dimensions predicted suspiciousness, and schizotypal and paranoid personality traits, as well as low self-esteem and depression. Similarly, both dimensions predicted suspiciousness, depression, and poor social support at T5, whereas only positive schizotypy predicted low self-esteem, anxiety, and perceived stress.<div class="boxTitle">Conclusions</div>Both schizotypy dimensions consistently showed a meaningful pattern of hypothesized differential and overlapping predictions, which supports their validity as distinct dimensions and their predictive validity in nonclinical samples.</span>
<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">Abstract</div><div class="boxTitle">Background and Hypothesis</div>Schizotypy can be utilized as a phenotypic risk marker for schizophrenia and its spectrum and might relate to putative dimensional biological markers of the psychosis spectrum. Among these are amygdala function and structure, which are impaired in schizophrenia, but possibly also correlated with subclinical expression of schizotypy in nonclinical samples. We tested whether different parameters relating to amygdala function would be different in healthy subjects with relatively higher vs lower schizotypy traits.<div class="boxTitle">Study Design</div>Sixty-three psychiatrically healthy subjects (42 with higher vs 21 with lower schizotypy scores, selected on the basis of the Oxford-Liverpool Inventory of Feelings and Experiences positive schizotypy subscale) underwent a multimodal imaging protocol, including functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during a task-based emotional (fearful) face recognition paradigm, arterial spin labeling for measurement of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) at rest, and resting-state fMRI for functional connectivity (FC) analyses, as well as a T1-weighted structural MRI scan.<div class="boxTitle">Study Results</div>The high schizotypy group showed significantly higher right amygdala activation during viewing of fearful emotional images and lower resting-state FC of the left amygdala with a cerebellum cluster, but no differences in resting-state amygdala rCBF or volume.<div class="boxTitle">Conclusions</div>Our findings demonstrate a functionally relevant effect of schizotypy on amygdala activation in the absence of baseline rCBF or macroscopic structure. This suggests that while schizotypy might affect some functional or structural parameters in the brain, certain functionally relevant effects only emerge during cognitive or emotional triggers.</span>
<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">Abstract</div><div class="boxTitle">Background and Hypothesis</div>Many patients with psychiatric disorders show increased temporal discounting (TD), ie, they discount future rewards more steeply than healthy controls. However, findings for schizophrenia and schizotypy, a personality constellation considered to be on the schizophrenia spectcrum, are less clear. Moreover, the role of future time representation in TD in the schizophrenia spectrum has not been examined. We hypothesized positive associations between schizotypal personality traits and TD and reduced TD when the timepoint of future rewards is represented in dates rather than delay units (the date/delay effect). Further, we explored associations between schizotypy and the magnitude of the date/delay effect.<div class="boxTitle">Study Design</div>We conducted a large-scale, general-population online study (<span style="font-style:italic;">N</span> = 1000) assessing TD with the Monetary Choice Questionnaire (MCQ) and schizotypal traits with the Short Oxford-Liverpool Inventory of Feelings and Experiences (sO-LIFE). Time representation in the MCQ (dates vs delays) was manipulated within subject.<div class="boxTitle">Study Results</div>Associations between TD and sO-LIFE subscales were not significant after Bonferroni correction (all <span style="font-style:italic;">r</span> ≤ .06). The date/delay effect was successfully replicated (<span style="font-style:italic;">P</span> < .001, <span style="font-style:italic;">g</span><sub>av</sub> = 0.22). Interestingly, higher values in the sO-LIFE Unusual Experiences subscale predicted the magnitude of the date/delay effect when controlling for influences of other sO-LIFE subscales, age, education, and drug use.<div class="boxTitle">Conclusions</div>TD was not associated with schizotypy, but individuals with higher levels of positive schizotypy were more sensitive to manipulations of the representation of future timepoints. Future studies should focus on these processes as potential mechanisms in the development and treatment of cognitive-perceptual deficits in the schizophrenia spectrum.</span>
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