Learning without contingencies induces higher order asynchrony in brain networks in schizophrenia

Authors

Elizabeth L. Martin, Wayne State UniversityFollow
Asadur Chowdury, Wayne State University
Vaibhav Diwadkar, Wayne State UniversityFollow
Sazid Hasan, Wayne State University
Munajj Ul-Huq, Wayne State University
Shahira Baajour, Wayne State University
Dalal Khatib, Wayne State University
Usha Rajan, Wayne State University
Jeffrey Stanley, Wayne State University

Research Mentor Name

Vaibhav A. Diwadkar

Research Mentor Email Address

vdiwadka@med.wayne.edu

Institution / Department

Dept. of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine

Document Type

Research Abstract

Research Type

basicbio

Level of Research

yes

Type of Post-Bachelor Degree

Medical Doctorate

Abstract

Schizophrenia (SCZ) is characterized by both cognitive and reward impairments. A recent study suggests that SCZ is associated with a loss of synchrony between learning and reward circuits (Robison et al., 2019) and higher levels of dis-organization of functional brain networks may underpin failures in learning that characterize SCZ (Hütt et al., 2014). Therefore, here we examined inter-group (HC ≠ SCZ) 4^th order differences in statistical regularity across a connectome of cognition and reward brain circuits. The analyses were conducted on fMRI time series data from a previous learning paradigm (Stanley et al., 2017) with periods of Encoding and Retrieval. 75 participants (46 SCZ, 18 Age 50) consented for fMRI. Time Series were extracted from eight bilateral a priori nodes (across learning and reward sub-networks). 2^nd order undirectional functional connectivity was characterized across all nodal pairs during Encoding, Retrieval, and their subsequent rest periods. From this, a 4^th order cross-correlation matrix was produced within each group and condition. Significant 4^th order differences were projected to chords in the 4^th order connectomic rings for Encoding and Retrieval (Figure 1). Two effects are evident: 1) SCZ are characterized by a massive loss of 4^th order synchrony during both Encoding and Retrieval and 2) Retrieval evokes a greater loss in 4^th order statistical synchrony than does Encoding. These results appear to validate the idea the SCZ is characterized by a loss of synergy between cognition and reward circuits, and that this loss of synergy is evident at higher order scales.

Disciplines

Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms | Medicine and Health Sciences | Psychiatry and Psychology

Recommended Citation

Martin, Elizabeth L.; Chowdury, Asadur; Diwadkar, Vaibhav; Hasan, Sazid; Ul-Huq, Munajj; Baajour, Shahira; Khatib, Dalal; Rajan, Usha; and Stanley, Jeffrey, "Learning without contingencies induces higher order asynchrony in brain networks in schizophrenia" (2021). Medical Student Research Symposium. 120.
https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/som_srs/120

Comments

Hasan S, Huq M, Chowdury A, Thakkar K, Robison AJ, Stanley JA, Diwadkar VA (In Submission). Learning without contingencies: Dysfunctional interactions between Learning and Reward circuits in schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Research.

Robison, A.J., Thakkar, K., Diwadkar, V.A., (2019), ‘Cognition and Reward Circuits in Schizophrenia: Synergistic, not Separate’, Biological Psychiatry, 21 Sep 2019.

Hutt, M.T., Kaiser, M., Hilgetag, C.C., (2014), ‘Perspective: network-guided pattern formation of neural dynamics’, Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci vol 369, 1653.