3.2 Neural Mechanisms of Social Environmental Risk for Schizophrenia. (9th April 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Meyer-Lindenberg, Andreas; Tost, Heike
• Is Part Of: Schizophrenia bulletin. Volume 45(2019)Supplement 2
• Page Start: S90
• Page End: S90
• Publication Date: 2019-04-09
• Subjects: Schizophrenia -- Periodicals; Schizophrenia -- Research -- Periodicals; 616.898005
• DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbz022.004
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0586-7614

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Urban birth, urban living, and ethnic minority status are established risk factors for schizophrenia, but the mechanisms are unclear. Previous evidence suggests a causal role of social exposures and adverse experiences, but experimental evidence is scarce. Methods: We combine multimodal neuroimaging with ecological momentary assessment, geolocation and geospatial analysis in an epidemiological longitudinal sample in Germany. Results: We find that established risk factors converge on the perigenual cingulate-amygdala-ventral striatal pathway as shown by structural and functional imaging, supporting a role for the amygdalostriatal system in psychosis risk. Using a combination of PET and fMRI data, we suggest a mechanistic link to psychosis by increased dopamine release and synthesis in striatum secondary to prefrontal dysregulation. Moreover, environmental context, such as greenspace, can mitigate these impacts. Conclusions: This work shows a convergent risk circuit that could guide primary prevention of schizophrenia through reduction of manifestation risk by environmental manipulation.