A Systematic Characterization of Structural Brain Changes in Schizophrenia

Abstract

A systematic characterization of the similarities and differences among different methods for detecting structural brain abnormalities in schizophrenia, such as voxel-based morphometry (VBM), tensor-based morphometry (TBM), and projection-based thickness (PBT), is important for understanding the brain pathology in schizophrenia and for developing effective biomarkers for a diagnosis of schizophrenia. However, such studies are still lacking. Here, we performed VBM, TBM, and PBT analyses on T1-weighted brain MR images acquired from 116 patients with schizophrenia and 116 healthy controls.We found that, although all methods detected wide-spread structural changes, different methods captured different information -only 10.35% of the grey matter changes in cortex were detected by all three methods, and VBM only detected 11.36% of the white matter changes detected by TBM. Further, pattern classification between patients and controls revealed that combining different measures improved the classification accuracy (81.9%), indicating that fusion of different structural measures serves as a better neuroimaging marker for the objective diagnosis of schizophrenia. Keywords Voxel-based morphometry Á Tensor-based morphometry Á Deformation-based morphometry Á Cortical thickness Á Multivariate pattern analysis Á Structural MRI Á Schizophrenia Wasana Ediri Arachchi and Yanmin Peng have contributed equally to this work.

Cortical and Subcortical Grey Matter Abnormalities in White Matter Hyperintensities and Subsequent Cognitive Impairment

“…In this study, we aimed to evaluate the GM structural alterations underlying cognitive decline in WMH patients. The two conventional GM measurements cortical thickness and GMV provide similar, but sometimes relatively unique, information on different types of structural changes [18][19][20][21]. And compared to the voxel-based method, GM morphometric analyses at the regional level provide direct and precise information of GM alteration in each subregion [22,23].…”

Classification of patients with migraine and healthy subjects using gross brain volume changes

“…The structural brain changes detected by VBM and TBM possess notable similarities and differences to date. It is postulated that different methodological approaches (VBM and TBM) may underlie these similarities and differences in structural findings in migraine 27 . Because VBM approach applied in the literature converts the initial GM (or WM) density value into the absolute volume of the specified tissue type, then eliminates the influence of global brain volume by regressing out the TIV during statistical comparisons and obtains relative volumes at voxel level.…”

“…It is postulated that different methodological approaches (VBM and TBM) may underlie these similarities and differences in structural findings in migraine. 27 Because VBM approach applied in the literature converts the initial GM (or WM) density value into the absolute volume of the specified tissue type, then eliminates the influence of global brain volume by regressing out the TIV during statistical comparisons and obtains relative volumes at voxel level. In contrast to VBM, TBM estimates the gross volume changes at the voxel level but does not differentiate between distinct tissue types (GM, WM, and CSF) within a given voxel.…”

Nucleus accumbens degeneration in spinocerebellar ataxia type 2: a preliminary study

“…It indicated a more significant atrophy rate in the infratentorial brain than in supratentorial regions 15 . TBM is a well‐known method but is often vulnerable to registration uncertainty 16 . In order to reach the truth about SCA2, gathering complementary information in multiple ways is preferable.…”

“…15 TBM is a wellknown method but is often vulnerable to registration uncertainty. 16 In order to reach the truth about SCA2, gathering complementary information in multiple ways is preferable.…”