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Functional Disconnection in Face Detection in Schizophrenia
Dysfunction was found exclusively for right fusiform face area (FFA) in schizophrenia during face detection, a new study found. Researchers used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to characterize resting state functional connectivity between an independent component analysis (ICA)-defined early visual cortical network and a priori defined face-processing regions. Dual regression was used in 20 patients with schizophrenia and 26 healthy controls. Among the findings:
- Group differences in functional connectivity were found in right FFA only; controls showed significantly stronger functional connectivity to an early visual cortical network.
- Functional connectivity in right FFA was associated with neural responses during face detection in controls only, and perceptual detection thresholds for faces in patients only.
Maher S, Ekstrom T, Ongur D, et al. Functional disconnection between the visual cortex and right fusiform face area in schizophrenia. [Published online ahead of print May 22, 2019]. Schizophr Res. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2019.05.016.