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. 2013 Nov;150(2-3):491-7.
doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2013.08.022. Epub 2013 Sep 19.

Prefrontal cortical dysfunction during visual perspective-taking in schizophrenia

Shaun M Eack  1 , Jessica A Wojtalik, Christina E Newhill, Matcheri S Keshavan, Mary L Phillips
Affiliations

Prefrontal cortical dysfunction during visual perspective-taking in schizophrenia

Shaun M Eack et al. Schizophr Res. 2013 Nov.

Abstract

Schizophrenia is characterized by marked impairments in a broad and diverse array of social-cognitive domains. Fundamental deficits in the ability to visualize and shift to the perspectives of others and the neural networks that support this ability may contribute to many of these impairments. This study sought to investigate deficits in prefrontal brain function and connectivity in patients with schizophrenia during visual perspective-taking, and the degree to which such deficits contribute to higher-order impairments in social cognition. A total of 20 outpatients with schizophrenia and 20 age- and gender-matched healthy volunteers completed a basic, visual perspective-taking task during functional magnetic resonance imaging, along with a behavioral assessment of theory of mind after neuroimaging. Results revealed hypoactivity in the medial prefrontal (anterior cingulate) and orbitofrontal cortices during perspective-taking trials compared to control trials in schizophrenia patients relative to healthy controls. In addition, patients demonstrated significant deficits in negative connectivity between medial prefrontal and medial-temporal regions during perspective-taking, which fully mediated behavioral impairments observed in theory of mind. These findings suggest that disruptions are present in the most fundamental aspects of perspective-taking in schizophrenia, and that these disruptions impact higher-order social information processing.

Keywords: Medial prefrontal cortex; Perspective-taking; Schizophrenia; Social cognition; fMRI.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Visual Perspective-Taking Task
Figure 2
Figure 2
Prefrontal Functional Activity During Visual Perspective-Taking in Patients with Schizophrenia Compared to Healthy Volunteers
Figure 3
Figure 3
Anterior Cingulate and Medial-Temporal Functional Connectivity During Visual Perspective-Taking in Patients with Schizophrenia and Healthy volunteers
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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