As explained by Brian Keane, Ph.D. and professor of psychiatry, the discovery allows for early interventions and personalized treatment. Using data from the Human Connectome Early Psychosis project, scientists examined MRI scans of 159 people, including 105 patients who developed psychosis within the last five years.
The scientists found that in people with psychosis, the sensory areas of the cerebral cortex have weak connections with each other but stronger connections with the thalamus, the brain’s information relay center. These changes affect the somatosensory network, responsible for processing movements and sensations, as well as the visual network, associated with the perception of objects and faces.
Based on this data, the scientists created a “somato-visual” biomarker that allows for the high-precision identification of individuals at risk of developing psychosis. According to Keane, even five minutes of MRI scanning is enough to detect a potential threat and take timely measures.
