Abnormal causal connectivity of left superior temporal gyrus in drug-naïve first- episode adolescent-onset schizophrenia: A resting-state fMRI study

• Brain function is abnormal in adolescents with schizophrenia. Adolescent schizophrenia can be recognized based on brain function. The early onset of associated dysfunction. This study aimed to investigate the alterations causal connectivity between regions Adolescent-onset (AOS) patients. Thirty-two first-episode drug-naïve AOS patients and 27 healthy controls (HC) were recruited for resting-state functional MRI scanning. region between-group difference regional homogeneity (ReHo) values was chosen as a seed perform Granger causality analysis (GCA) further detect AOS. exhibited increased ReHo left superior temporal gyrus (STG) compared HCs. Significantly decreased outgoing from STG right frontal angular observed GC mapping stronger outflow insula inflow middle occipital (MOG) also Based assessments two strengthened MOG, discriminant model could identify all 94.9% accuracy. indicated that directional connections may play an important role pathogenesis serve potential biomarkers disease.