Project Summary

Stefan Ursu, M.D., Ph.D. (Young Investigator 2006) of the University of California Davis Medical Center, will use a novel functional MRI method to explore the activity of the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) during motivated behaviors in schizophrenia patients, and the degree of correlation between OFC activity and negative symptoms. Negative symptoms, such as diminished ability to experience pleasure and lack of motivation to pursue previously pleasurable activities, are a prominent feature of schizophrenia, but little is known about the mechanisms behind them. In healthy subjects, the OFC has been shown to be important for the affective impact of rewarding or punishing events and in processing stimuli that signal such events. A few studies also suggest that structural and functional abnormalities might be present in the OFC of schizophrenia patients, but it is not known whether and how such abnormalities are related to the presence of negative symptoms. Results could shed light on the link between disturbances in OFC function and negative symptoms in schizophrenia.

Program Area: SCHIZOPHRENIA/PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS\Schizophrenia

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