Microstructure of the superior temporal gyrus and hallucination proneness - a multi-compartment diffusion imaging study

Abstract

Previous studies reported that the volume of the left superior temporal gyrus (STG) is reduced in patients with schizophrenia and negatively correlated with hallucination severity. Moreover, diffusion-tensor imaging studies suggested a relationship between the brain microstructure in the STG of patients and auditory hallucinations. Hallucinations are also experienced in non-patient groups. This study investigated the relationship between hallucination proneness and the brain structure of the STG.Hallucination proneness was assessed by the Launey Slade Hallucination Scale (LSHS) in 25 healthy individuals who varied in their propensity to hear voices. Brain volume and microstructure of the STG was assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Microstructure was examined by conventional diffusion-tensor imaging as well as by neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI). The latter decomposes diffusion-based MRI into multiple compartments that characterize the brain microstructure by its neurite complexity known as orientation dispersion (ODI) and by its neurite density (NDI).Hallucination proneness was negatively correlated with the volume and microstructure (fractional anisotropy, neurite complexity) of the left but not the right STG. The strongest relationship (r = −0.563) was observed for neurite complexity (ODI). No correlation was observed for neurite density (NDI).These findings suggest that there is a relationship between the volume and the microstructure of the left STG and hallucination proneness. Dendritic complexity (but not neurite density) is inversely related to hallucination proneness. Metrics based on multi-compartment diffusion models seem to be more sensitive for hallucination-related neural processes than conventional MRI-based metrics.

Intrinsic Brain Activity of Inferior Temporal Region Increased in Prodromal Alzheimer's Disease With Hearing Loss

“…In addition, previous studies found that brain atrophy, especially in STG, was associated with HL Di Stadio et al, 2021). Similarly, a diffusion imaging study showed that there is a relationship between the left STG volume and auditory hallucination proneness (Spray et al, 2018). All these evidences support our findings to some extent.…”

Association Between Connectivity of Hippocampal Sub-Regions and Auditory Verbal Hallucinations in Schizophrenia

“…In our study, another result is that patients in this cohort showed right hippocampus-seeded dysconnectivity with bilateral superior temporal gyri, which is in line with a previous report (Sommer et al, 2012). With the exception of the superior temporal gyrus, which proved to be a reasonable AVHs-related brain area (Orlov et al, 2018; Spray et al, 2018), we uncovered a much more complicated network for AVHs in schizophrenia by means of mICA. This finding is suggestive of aberrant patterns of multiple brain areas in schizophrenia patients suffering from AVHs, and has made an unexpected discovery of AVH proneness.…”

<p>Neurite orientation and dispersion density imaging: clinical utility, efficacy, and role in therapy</p>

“…54 In schizophrenia, another study showed increased OD in the posterior limb of internal capsule and negative correlation with subsequent drug response. 55 Moreover, Spray et al 56,57 reported correlations between OD and hallucination proneness in otherwise healthy individuals. For mood disorders, reduced ND and OD were found in major depressive disorder with a correlation between OD and disease severity.…”