Functional Network Changes Following Cognitive Training in Individuals at Risk for Psychosis
Poster B117, Tuesday, October%209, 11:30%20am%20-%201:00%20pm, Essex%20Ballroom
Kristen Haut1, Abhishek Saxena1, Hong Yin2, David Dodell-Feder3, Sarah Hope Lincoln2, Matcheri Keshavan4, Larry Seidman2, Mor Nahum5,6, Christine Hooker1; 1Rush University Medical Center, 2Harvard University, 3University of Rochester, 4Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, 5Hebrew University in Jerusalem, 6Posit Science Corporation
Targeted cognitive training (TCT) has been proposed as a potential intervention to address behavioral deficits and has been shown to improve cognitive functioning in individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis (CHR). This study tests whether social cognitive focused TCT would alter the connectivity functional networks engaged in facial emotion processing, especially those involving the amygdala and superior temporal sulcus (STS). 14 CHR subjects (7 male, mean age = 21.9) and 14 matched healthy control subjects (HC) were included in the study. CHR subjects completed 40 hours (8 weeks) of targeted cognitive and social cognitive training using Lumosity (http://www.lumosity.com) and SocialVille (http://www.positscience.com). Resting state fMRI was acquired as well as fMRI during performance of an emotion recognition task. Changes in emotional face processing network were evaluated using seed-based connectivity analyses and psychophysiological Interaction (PPI).Individuals in the TCT group showed significant improvements on measures of social cognition. Prior to training, CHR individuals demonstrated hyperactivity in the left orbitofrontal cortex, posterior cingulate cortex and amygdala but this hyperactivity was reduced somewhat after training. CHR individuals also showed differences from controls in amygdala connectivity with the temporal and fusiform gyrus as well as reduced STS connectivity with prefrontal, temporal and posterior cingulate cortex. These results suggest that targeted cognitive training may be effective in altering functional network connectivity in networks associated with psychosis risk and may be a useful tool for prevention or early intervention in individuals at risk for psychotic disorders.
Topic Area: Ultra High Risk / Prodromal Research