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Open Access 01-01-2015 | Original Article

DISC1 Ser704Cys impacts thalamic-prefrontal connectivity

Authors: Bing Liu, Lingzhong Fan, Yue Cui, Xiaolong Zhang, Bing Hou, Yonghui Li, Wen Qin, Dawei Wang, Chunshui Yu, Tianzi Jiang

Published in: Brain Structure and Function | Issue 1/2015

Abstract

The Disrupted-in-Schizophrenia 1 (DISC1) gene has been thought as a putative susceptibility gene for various psychiatric disorders, and DISC1 Ser704Cys is associated with variations of brain morphology and function. Moreover, our recent diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) study reported that DISC1 Ser704Cys was associated with information transfer efficiency in the brain anatomical network. However, the effects of the DISC1 gene on functional brain connectivity and networks, especially for thalamic-prefrontal circuit, which are disrupted in various psychiatric disorders, are largely unknown. Using a functional connectivity density (FCD) mapping method based on functional magnetic resonance imaging data in a large sample of healthy Han Chinese subjects, we first investigated the association between DISC1 Ser704Cys and short- and long-range FCD hubs. Compared with Ser homozygotes, Cys-allele individuals had increased long-range FCD hubs in the bilateral thalami. The functional and anatomical connectivity of the thalamus to the prefrontal cortex was further analyzed. Significantly increased thalamic-prefrontal functional connectivity and decreased thalamic-prefrontal anatomical connectivity were found in DISC1 Cys-allele carriers. Our findings provide consistent evidence that the DISC1 Ser704Cys polymorphism influences the thalamic-prefrontal circuits in humans and may provide new insights into the neural mechanisms that link DISC1 and the risk for psychiatric disorders.

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Title: DISC1 Ser704Cys impacts thalamic-prefrontal connectivity
Authors: Bing Liu
Lingzhong Fan
Yue Cui
Xiaolong Zhang
Bing Hou
Yonghui Li
Wen Qin
Dawei Wang
Chunshui Yu
Tianzi Jiang
Publication date: 01-01-2015
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Brain Structure and Function / Issue 1/2015
Print ISSN: 1863-2653
Electronic ISSN: 1863-2661
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-013-0640-5

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

DISC1 Ser704Cys impacts thalamic-prefrontal connectivity

Abstract

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

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