Effects of parietal iTBS on resting-state effective connectivity within the frontoparietal network in patients with schizophrenia: An fMRI study

Background: Although intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) has shown effectiveness in addressing working memory (WM) deficits in individuals with schizophrenia (SZ), the current body of evidence is limited and the specific mechanisms involved remain unclear. Therefore, this pilot fMRI study ai...

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Main Authors: Li Li, Lina Wang, Han Wu, Bing Li, Weigang Pan, Wenqing Jin, Wen Wang, Yanping Ren, Chaomeng Liu, Xin Ma
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-01-01
Series:NeuroImage: Clinical
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213158224001566
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author Li Li
Lina Wang
Han Wu
Bing Li
Weigang Pan
Wenqing Jin
Wen Wang
Yanping Ren
Chaomeng Liu
Xin Ma
author_facet Li Li
Lina Wang
Han Wu
Bing Li
Weigang Pan
Wenqing Jin
Wen Wang
Yanping Ren
Chaomeng Liu
Xin Ma
author_sort Li Li
collection DOAJ
description Background: Although intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) has shown effectiveness in addressing working memory (WM) deficits in individuals with schizophrenia (SZ), the current body of evidence is limited and the specific mechanisms involved remain unclear. Therefore, this pilot fMRI study aimed to examine the efficacy of parietal iTBS in ameliorating WM impairments and explore its influence on the resting-state effective connectivity within the frontoparietal network in patients with SZ. Method: A total of 48 patients diagnosed with SZ were randomly assigned to an active or sham iTBS group and underwent 20 sessions of active or sham iTBS over 4 weeks. Subsequently, all patients underwent cognitive tests, clinical symptom assessments, and resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) scans. The effective connectivity between the frontal and parietal brain regions during the rs-fMRI scans was analyzed using a spectral dynamic causal modeling approach. Additionally, this trial was registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry in November 2022 (registry number: ChiCTR2200057286). Results: iTBS treatment improved the positive symptoms, negative symptoms, general psychopathology, and WM deficits. Following the iTBS intervention, the active group demonstrated a significant increase in connectivity strengths from the right MFG to the right SPL (p = 0.031) and from the left SPL to the left MFG (p = 0.010) compared to the pre-treatment levels. Additionally, compared to the sham group, the active group displayed a significantly higher connectivity strength from the right MFG to the right SPL (p = 0.042) after iTBS treatment. Conclusion: All these findings suggest that iTBS targeting the parietal region may influence the resting-state effective connectivity within the frontoparietal network, thereby offering promising therapeutic implications for alleviating the cognitive deficits in SZ.
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spelling doaj-art-048b677c747f4d16888f9b7c13db5fd82025-08-20T02:57:32ZengElsevierNeuroImage: Clinical2213-15822025-01-014510371510.1016/j.nicl.2024.103715Effects of parietal iTBS on resting-state effective connectivity within the frontoparietal network in patients with schizophrenia: An fMRI studyLi Li0Lina Wang1Han Wu2Bing Li3Weigang Pan4Wenqing Jin5Wen Wang6Yanping Ren7Chaomeng Liu8Xin Ma9Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & National Center for Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, PR China; Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, Capital Medical University, Beijing, PR ChinaBeijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & National Center for Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, PR China; Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, Capital Medical University, Beijing, PR ChinaBeijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & National Center for Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, PR China; Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, Capital Medical University, Beijing, PR ChinaHebei Provincial Mental Health Center, Baoding, PR China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Major Mental and Behavioral Disorders, Baoding, PR China; The Sixth Clinical Medical College of Hebei University, Baoding, PR ChinaBeijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & National Center for Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, PR China; Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, Capital Medical University, Beijing, PR ChinaBeijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & National Center for Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, PR China; Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, Capital Medical University, Beijing, PR ChinaBeijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & National Center for Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, PR China; Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, Capital Medical University, Beijing, PR ChinaBeijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & National Center for Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, PR China; Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, Capital Medical University, Beijing, PR China; Corresponding authors at: No.5 Ankang Lane, Dewai Avenue, Xicheng District, Beijing City 100088, PR China.Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & National Center for Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, PR China; Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, Capital Medical University, Beijing, PR China; Corresponding authors at: No.5 Ankang Lane, Dewai Avenue, Xicheng District, Beijing City 100088, PR China.Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & National Center for Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, PR China; Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, Capital Medical University, Beijing, PR China; Corresponding authors at: No.5 Ankang Lane, Dewai Avenue, Xicheng District, Beijing City 100088, PR China.Background: Although intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) has shown effectiveness in addressing working memory (WM) deficits in individuals with schizophrenia (SZ), the current body of evidence is limited and the specific mechanisms involved remain unclear. Therefore, this pilot fMRI study aimed to examine the efficacy of parietal iTBS in ameliorating WM impairments and explore its influence on the resting-state effective connectivity within the frontoparietal network in patients with SZ. Method: A total of 48 patients diagnosed with SZ were randomly assigned to an active or sham iTBS group and underwent 20 sessions of active or sham iTBS over 4 weeks. Subsequently, all patients underwent cognitive tests, clinical symptom assessments, and resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) scans. The effective connectivity between the frontal and parietal brain regions during the rs-fMRI scans was analyzed using a spectral dynamic causal modeling approach. Additionally, this trial was registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry in November 2022 (registry number: ChiCTR2200057286). Results: iTBS treatment improved the positive symptoms, negative symptoms, general psychopathology, and WM deficits. Following the iTBS intervention, the active group demonstrated a significant increase in connectivity strengths from the right MFG to the right SPL (p = 0.031) and from the left SPL to the left MFG (p = 0.010) compared to the pre-treatment levels. Additionally, compared to the sham group, the active group displayed a significantly higher connectivity strength from the right MFG to the right SPL (p = 0.042) after iTBS treatment. Conclusion: All these findings suggest that iTBS targeting the parietal region may influence the resting-state effective connectivity within the frontoparietal network, thereby offering promising therapeutic implications for alleviating the cognitive deficits in SZ.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213158224001566
spellingShingle Li Li
Lina Wang
Han Wu
Bing Li
Weigang Pan
Wenqing Jin
Wen Wang
Yanping Ren
Chaomeng Liu
Xin Ma
Effects of parietal iTBS on resting-state effective connectivity within the frontoparietal network in patients with schizophrenia: An fMRI study
NeuroImage: Clinical
title Effects of parietal iTBS on resting-state effective connectivity within the frontoparietal network in patients with schizophrenia: An fMRI study
title_full Effects of parietal iTBS on resting-state effective connectivity within the frontoparietal network in patients with schizophrenia: An fMRI study
title_fullStr Effects of parietal iTBS on resting-state effective connectivity within the frontoparietal network in patients with schizophrenia: An fMRI study
title_full_unstemmed Effects of parietal iTBS on resting-state effective connectivity within the frontoparietal network in patients with schizophrenia: An fMRI study
title_short Effects of parietal iTBS on resting-state effective connectivity within the frontoparietal network in patients with schizophrenia: An fMRI study
title_sort effects of parietal itbs on resting state effective connectivity within the frontoparietal network in patients with schizophrenia an fmri study
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213158224001566
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