B4284 - Normative modelling of brain structure in subjects with subclinical psychotic symptoms - 03/05/2023

B number: 
B4284
Principal applicant name: 
Rafael Romero Garcia | Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge
Co-applicants: 
Isaac Sebenius, Professor Anthony David, Dr. Sarah Morgan, Professor Edward Bullmore, Dr. Kate Merritt, Lena Dorfschmidt, Dr. Jakob Seidlitz, Dr. Pedro Luque Laguna, Dr. Richard Bethlehem
Title of project: 
Normative modelling of brain structure in subjects with subclinical psychotic symptoms.
Proposal summary: 

Our proposal will exploit longitudinal neuroimaging to evaluate how brain maturation is linked with subclinical psychotic experiences. We have recently developed a method that allows us to identify abnormal maturational trajectories by computing brain centiles (analogous to pediatric growth charts). Applying this methodology to neuroimaging data from individuals with varying levels of psychosis will provide a more complete picture of how this condition progresses in the context of a normative population. Using ALSPAC data from subjects with psychotic experiences will enable us to study how early brain alterations are linked with an initial set of subclinical symptoms and will shed light on how these structural alterations compare to those seen in clinically diagnosed psychotic disorders in the context of a large-scale, multi-study framework.

Impact of research: 
Understanding how brain structure/function and psychosis interrelate during adolescence and young adulthood is of major interest. From an academic perspective, we expect that this will result in the publication of several articles in high-level journals.
Date proposal received: 
Tuesday, 4 April, 2023
Date proposal approved: 
Wednesday, 3 May, 2023
Keywords: 
Mental health - Psychology, Psychiatry, Cognition, Mental health, MRI, neuroimaging., Population neuroimaging, BrainCharts, MRI, Development, psychosis.