Magnetic resonance imaging of the dopamine system in schizophrenia – A scoping review
For decades, aberrant dopamine transmission has been proposed to play a central role in schizophrenia pathophysiology. These theories are supported by human in vivo molecular imaging studies of dopamine transmission, particularly positron emission tomography. However, there are several downsides to...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-09-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.925476/full |
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| author | Julia Schulz Julia Schulz Juliana Zimmermann Juliana Zimmermann Christian Sorg Christian Sorg Christian Sorg Aurore Menegaux Aurore Menegaux Felix Brandl Felix Brandl Felix Brandl |
| author_facet | Julia Schulz Julia Schulz Juliana Zimmermann Juliana Zimmermann Christian Sorg Christian Sorg Christian Sorg Aurore Menegaux Aurore Menegaux Felix Brandl Felix Brandl Felix Brandl |
| author_sort | Julia Schulz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | For decades, aberrant dopamine transmission has been proposed to play a central role in schizophrenia pathophysiology. These theories are supported by human in vivo molecular imaging studies of dopamine transmission, particularly positron emission tomography. However, there are several downsides to such approaches, for example limited spatial resolution or restriction of the measurement to synaptic processes of dopaminergic neurons. To overcome these limitations and to measure complementary aspects of dopamine transmission, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based approaches investigating the macrostructure, metabolism, and connectivity of dopaminergic nuclei, i.e., substantia nigra pars compacta and ventral tegmental area, can be employed. In this scoping review, we focus on four dopamine MRI methods that have been employed in patients with schizophrenia so far: neuromelanin MRI, which is thought to measure long-term dopamine function in dopaminergic nuclei; morphometric MRI, which is assumed to measure the volume of dopaminergic nuclei; diffusion MRI, which is assumed to measure fiber-based structural connectivity of dopaminergic nuclei; and resting-state blood-oxygenation-level-dependent functional MRI, which is thought to measure functional connectivity of dopaminergic nuclei based on correlated blood oxygenation fluctuations. For each method, we describe the underlying signal, outcome measures, and downsides. We present the current state of research in schizophrenia and compare it to other disorders with either similar (psychotic) symptoms, i.e., bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder, or dopaminergic abnormalities, i.e., substance use disorder and Parkinson’s disease. Finally, we discuss overarching issues and outline future research questions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T21:02:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f21fd2ef0d6e48c89c659a4818752cd4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-0640 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T21:02:27Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-f21fd2ef0d6e48c89c659a4818752cd42022-12-22T04:03:27ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402022-09-011310.3389/fpsyt.2022.925476925476Magnetic resonance imaging of the dopamine system in schizophrenia – A scoping reviewJulia Schulz0Julia Schulz1Juliana Zimmermann2Juliana Zimmermann3Christian Sorg4Christian Sorg5Christian Sorg6Aurore Menegaux7Aurore Menegaux8Felix Brandl9Felix Brandl10Felix Brandl11Department of Neuroradiology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, GermanyTUM-NIC Neuroimaging Center, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, GermanyDepartment of Neuroradiology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, GermanyTUM-NIC Neuroimaging Center, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, GermanyDepartment of Neuroradiology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, GermanyTUM-NIC Neuroimaging Center, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, GermanyDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, GermanyDepartment of Neuroradiology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, GermanyTUM-NIC Neuroimaging Center, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, GermanyDepartment of Neuroradiology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, GermanyTUM-NIC Neuroimaging Center, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, GermanyDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, GermanyFor decades, aberrant dopamine transmission has been proposed to play a central role in schizophrenia pathophysiology. These theories are supported by human in vivo molecular imaging studies of dopamine transmission, particularly positron emission tomography. However, there are several downsides to such approaches, for example limited spatial resolution or restriction of the measurement to synaptic processes of dopaminergic neurons. To overcome these limitations and to measure complementary aspects of dopamine transmission, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based approaches investigating the macrostructure, metabolism, and connectivity of dopaminergic nuclei, i.e., substantia nigra pars compacta and ventral tegmental area, can be employed. In this scoping review, we focus on four dopamine MRI methods that have been employed in patients with schizophrenia so far: neuromelanin MRI, which is thought to measure long-term dopamine function in dopaminergic nuclei; morphometric MRI, which is assumed to measure the volume of dopaminergic nuclei; diffusion MRI, which is assumed to measure fiber-based structural connectivity of dopaminergic nuclei; and resting-state blood-oxygenation-level-dependent functional MRI, which is thought to measure functional connectivity of dopaminergic nuclei based on correlated blood oxygenation fluctuations. For each method, we describe the underlying signal, outcome measures, and downsides. We present the current state of research in schizophrenia and compare it to other disorders with either similar (psychotic) symptoms, i.e., bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder, or dopaminergic abnormalities, i.e., substance use disorder and Parkinson’s disease. Finally, we discuss overarching issues and outline future research questions.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.925476/fulldopamineschizophreniamagnetic resonance imagingsubstantia nigraventral tegmental area |
| spellingShingle | Julia Schulz Julia Schulz Juliana Zimmermann Juliana Zimmermann Christian Sorg Christian Sorg Christian Sorg Aurore Menegaux Aurore Menegaux Felix Brandl Felix Brandl Felix Brandl Magnetic resonance imaging of the dopamine system in schizophrenia – A scoping review Frontiers in Psychiatry dopamine schizophrenia magnetic resonance imaging substantia nigra ventral tegmental area |
| title | Magnetic resonance imaging of the dopamine system in schizophrenia – A scoping review |
| title_full | Magnetic resonance imaging of the dopamine system in schizophrenia – A scoping review |
| title_fullStr | Magnetic resonance imaging of the dopamine system in schizophrenia – A scoping review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Magnetic resonance imaging of the dopamine system in schizophrenia – A scoping review |
| title_short | Magnetic resonance imaging of the dopamine system in schizophrenia – A scoping review |
| title_sort | magnetic resonance imaging of the dopamine system in schizophrenia a scoping review |
| topic | dopamine schizophrenia magnetic resonance imaging substantia nigra ventral tegmental area |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.925476/full |
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