Association between reduced extraversion and right posterior fusiform gyrus gray matter reduction in chronic schizophrenia

T Onitsuka, PG Nestor, RJ Gurrera… - American Journal of …, 2005 - Am Psychiatric Assoc
T Onitsuka, PG Nestor, RJ Gurrera, ME Shenton, K Kasai, M Frumin, MA Niznikiewicz…
American Journal of Psychiatry, 2005Am Psychiatric Assoc
OBJECTIVE: The authors examined the association between volume of the fusiform gyrus, a
region involved in face processing, and the personality trait of extraversion in patients with
schizophrenia. METHOD: Male patients (N= 24) and age-matched male comparison
subjects (N= 26) completed NEO Five-Factor Inventory personality measures of extraversion
and underwent high-spatial-resolution magnetic resonance imaging of anterior and
posterior fusiform gyrus gray matter. RESULTS: Low extraversion scores were significantly …
OBJECTIVE
The authors examined the association between volume of the fusiform gyrus, a region involved in face processing, and the personality trait of extraversion in patients with schizophrenia.
METHOD
Male patients (N=24) and age-matched male comparison subjects (N=26) completed NEO Five-Factor Inventory personality measures of extraversion and underwent high-spatial-resolution magnetic resonance imaging of anterior and posterior fusiform gyrus gray matter.
RESULTS
Low extraversion scores were significantly correlated with gray matter volume reductions in the right posterior fusiform gyrus for patients but not comparison subjects.
CONCLUSIONS
Reduced right posterior fusiform gyrus volume may contribute to disease-related social disturbances, characterized by both low extraversion and reduced sensitivity to human faces.
Psychiatry Online