Imaging Hippocampal Hemodynamics in Schizophrenia

Abstract

The hippocampus is a medial temporal lobe structure involved in learning and memory. Several magnetic resonance imaging methods exist to investigate hippocampal structure and function in vivo. Some of these methods provide information about the anterior and posterior hippocampus while other methods can examine its subfields. In this study, we applied several imaging techniques to study hippocampal structure, blood volume (CBV), and blood flow (CBF) in early psychosis and chronic schizophrenia. We characterized CBV gradients in the hippocampus and its subfields and found increased anterior CA1 CBV in chronic schizophrenia. Hippocampal CBF was normal in the same cohort of chronic, medicated patients. When we studied patients in early psychosis, we found no hippocampal volume and CBF differences. However, we found an inverse relationship between hippocampal volume and CBF and a trend towards increased anterior hippocampal CBV. This study provides comprehensive, multi-modal imaging to characterize hippocampal structural and functional alternations in a clinical population.