Temporal lobe structures by magnetic resonance in schizophrenic patients

The aim of the study was to present quantitative and qualitative MRI measures of temporo-limbic structures of the brain in the group of 80 schizophrenic patients. Decrease of the volume of lateral temporal cortex defined as widening of Sylvian fissure was noted in the schizophrenia group significantly more frequently than in healthy controls. Those abnormalities were found in both temporal lobes with the predominance of the left brain hemisphere. The highest mean width of the right Sylvian fissure was found in the residual schizophrenia subgroup and of the left Sylvian fissure – in the paranoid schizophrenia subgroup. The widening of the left Sylvian fissure positively correlated with the severity of positive symptoms and general psychopathology at baseline. Similar correlations concerning higher qualitative measures were found bilaterally in the area of upper temporal gyres. The intensity of T1-dependent signal in amygdala correlated positively with the assessments of positive symptoms and general psychopathology evaluated by the PANSS as well as the severity of depressive symptoms.