Thesis Title: Mapping Genetic Risk for Schizophrenia onto the Triple Network across Adolescent Development: A Longitudinal<\/p>\n
By: Kader Kubat<\/p>\n
Advisor: Timothea Toulopoulou
\nCo-Advisor: Evangelos Vassos<\/p>\n
Date: Sep 4, 2025
\nTime: 03:00 PM Istanbul
\nPlace: Zoom (Online)<\/p>\n
This is an online seminar. To request event details please send a message to department.<\/p>\n
Abstract: Many studies have demonstrated the importance of the Triple Network Model in schizophrenia; however, no longitudinal study has yet examined between network connectivity among the three Triple Network systems in healthy adolescents. To address this gap, we conducted a one year investigation of between network functional connectivity during typical development and assessed how genetic liability to schizophrenia moderates these changes. In this thesis, 89 pairs of twins and siblings were recruited and underwent resting state fMRI at baseline and one year follow up, with ROI to ROI functional connectivity values computed separately for each session. Participants also completed the CAPE 42 to assess subclinical psychotic symptoms and provided blood or saliva samples for genotyping to derive schizophrenia polygenic risk scores (PRS SCZ). Using linear mixed effects models, we evaluated (1) whether significant longitudinal connectivity changes occurred, (2) whether PRS SCZ moderated these longitudinal changes, and (3) whether connectivity changes were associated with CAPE 42 scores (total, positive, negative, and depressive). We found no significant time effect from baseline to follow up; however, PRS SCZ significantly moderated connectivity trajectories, with higher PRS SCZ associated with greater increases in FPN\u2013SN, DMN\u2013SN, and DMN\u2013FPN connectivity. Specifically, PRS related enhancements were observed in the connections between left LPFC\u2013left SMG, left PPC\u2013right RPFC, right PPC\u2013right SMG, left anterior insula\u2013left LP, left PPC\u2013left PCC, and right PPC\u2013right PCC. None of these PRS modulated connectivity changes, however, were significantly associated with changes in CAPE 42 subclinical symptom scores. The PRS SCZ\u2013related connectivity increases paralleled patterns observed in patients and other high risk groups, suggesting that these alterations may reflect early neurodevelopmental mechanisms underlying schizophrenia pathology before the emergence of clinical symptoms. These findings highlight PRS SCZ\u2019s potential as an early biomarker of schizophrenia risk and underscore the need for extended longitudinal follow up to capture non linear developmental trajectories.
\nKeywords: Triple Network Model, Resting\u2010state fMRI, ROI to ROI Functional Connectivity, Longitudinal Study, Schizophrenia Polygenic Risk Score, Subclinical Psychotic Symptoms<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Thesis Title: Mapping Genetic Risk for Schizophrenia onto the Triple Network across Adolescent Development: A Longitudinal By: Kader Kubat Advisor: Timothea Toulopoulou Co-Advisor: Evangelos Vassos Date: Sep 4, 2025 Time: 03:00 PM Istanbul Place: Zoom (Online) This is an online seminar. To request event details please send a message to [\u2026] <\/p>\n