Resting-State Networks of Adolescents Experiencing Depersonalization-Like Illusions: Cross-sectional and Longitudinal Findings

Abstract

The mirror-gazing task (MGT) experimentally induces illusions, ranging from simple color changes in the specular image of oneself, to depersonalization-like anomalous self-experiences (ASE) as in experiencing one's specular image as someone else. The objective was to characterize how connectivity in resting-state networks (RSNs) differed in adolescents reporting such depersonalization-like ASEs during the MGT, in a cross-sectional (Y1) and in a longitudinal manner (a year after). 75 adolescents were recruited; for the cross-sectional analysis, participants were split into 2 groups: those who reported depersonalization-like ASEs on the MGT (ASE), and those who did not (NoASE). For the longitudinal analysis, participants were split into 3 groups whether they experienced MGT depersonalization-like ASEs: only at Y1 (Remitters), both times (Persisters), or never (Controls). Participants also filled out self-reports assessing schizotypal personality (Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire [SPQ]), and underwent resting-state functional MRI procedure (rs-fMRI). A group level Independent Component Analysis (ICA) was conducted and voxel-wise inter-group differences within RSNs were examined. The rs-fMRI analysis revealed lower connectivity of specific visual areas within the primary visual network (PVN), and higher connectivity of regions within the Default Mode Network (DMN) when contrasting the ASE and NoASE groups. The areas that were atypically connected within the PVN further presented differential pattern of connectivity in the longitudinal analysis. Atypical connectivity of visual area within the DMN at Y1 was associated with higher scores on the disorganized dimension of schizotypy at the second evaluation. The present study uncovers a subtle signature in the RSNs of non-clinical adolescents who experienced task-induced ASEs.

Fig. 1.

Methods.

Fig. 2.

Cross-sectional rs-fMRI: Top: Connectivity differences within the Primary Visual Network (PVN) for the contrast NoASE>ASE (Blue) showed connectivity differences in BA7 and BA37. Bottom: Within the Default Mode Network, the contrast ASE>NoASE (Red) showed connectivity differences in BA18. Results are clustered for family wise errors (P < .05) and overlaid on their respective components’ maps (Yellow = PVN, Blue = dDMN).

Fig. 3.

Longitudinal rs-fMRI: Results of contrast time point × groups within the PVN. (A) L-lateral occipital gyrus (BA 19). (B) L-Inferior posterior temporal gyrus (BA 20). Results are displayed for a threshold of P < .05, FWE-corrected.

Fig. 4.

Correlation with clinical data: In the ASE group; mean connectivity values of the left middle occipital gyrus were positively correlated with scores on SPQ disorganized dimension after 1 year.