Broome, Matthew R., Fusar-Poli, Paolo, Matthiasson, P. (Pall), Woolley, J. B. (James B.), Valmaggia, Lucia, Johns, Louise C., Tabraham, Paul, Bramon, Elvira, Williams, S. C. R. (Steven C. R.), Brammer, M. J. (Mick J.), Chitnis, X., Zelaya, F. and McGuire, Philip (2010) Neural correlates of visuospatial working memory in the ‘at-risk mental state’. Psychological Medicine, Vol.40 (No.12). pp. 1987-1999. doi:10.1017/S0033291710000280

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Abstract

Background. Impaired spatial working memory (SWM) is a robust feature of schizophrenia and has been linked to
the risk of developing psychosis in people with an at-risk mental state (ARMS). We used functional magnetic
resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine the neural substrate of SWM in the ARMS and in patients who had just
developed schizophrenia.
Method. fMRI was used to study 17 patients with an ARMS, 10 patients with a first episode of psychosis and 15 agematched
healthy comparison subjects. The blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) response was measured while
subjects performed an object–location paired-associate memory task, with experimental manipulation of mnemonic
load.
Results. In all groups, increasing mnemonic load was associated with activation in the medial frontal and medial
posterior parietal cortex. Significant between-group differences in activation were evident in a cluster spanning the
medial frontal cortex and right precuneus, with the ARMS groups showing less activation than controls but greater
activation than first-episode psychosis (FEP) patients. These group differences were more evident at the most
demanding levels of the task than at the easy level. In all groups, task performance improved with repetition of the
conditions. However, there was a significant group difference in the response of the right precuneus across repeated
trials, with an attenuation of activation in controls but increased activation in FEP and little change in the ARMS.
Conclusions. Abnormal neural activity in the medial frontal cortex and posterior parietal cortex during an SWM task
may be a neural correlate of increased vulnerability to psychosis.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	R Medicine > RC Internal medicine
Divisions:	Faculty of Medicine > Warwick Medical School > Health Sciences > Mental Health and Wellbeing Faculty of Medicine > Warwick Medical School
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Short-term memory, Schizophrenia -- Physiological aspects, Brain -- Localization of functions
Journal or Publication Title:	Psychological Medicine
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
ISSN:	0033-2917
Official Date:	October 2010
Dates:	Date Event October 2010 Published
Volume:	Vol.40
Number:	No.12
Page Range:	pp. 1987-1999
DOI:	10.1017/S0033291710000280
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Restricted or Subscription Access
Funder:	Guy's & St. Thomas' Hospital Trust. Charitable Foundation, South London and Maudsley NHS Trust

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