Schizophrenia spectrum disorders are associated with impairment in the microstructure of white matter, the key brain tissue responsible for fast communication between different brain regions necessary for any complex task. This white matter impairment is linked to problems with cognition in schizophrenia, especially slower processing speed. This project aims to study the potential for correcting white matter deficits in schizophrenia by examining mechanisms underlying white matter structure changes in response to training on playing a mock musical instrument.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
36
The video game \'Guitar Hero\' will be used as the platform for training for participants to acquire a new \'skill\'
Maryland Psychiatric Research Center
Catonsville, Maryland, United States
RECRUITINGUniversity of Maryland Baltimore - Maryland Psychiatric Research Center
Catonsville, Maryland, United States
NOT_YET_RECRUITINGWhite matter microstructure
fractional anisotropy of white matter tracts as assessed with diffusion tensor imaging
Time frame: 3 weeks
Brain level of N-acetylaspartate
NAA levels in motor cortex of brain as measured with magnetic resonance spectroscopy
Time frame: 3 weeks
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