Over the last decade the combination of brain neuroimaging techniques and graph theoretical analysis of the complex anatomical and functional networks in the brain have provided an exciting new platform for exploring the etiology of mental disorders such as schizophrenia. This review introduces the current status of this work, focusing on the topological properties of human brain networks - called 'small-world brain networks'- and on the disruptions in these networks in schizophrenia. The evidence supporting the findings of reduced efficiency of information exchange in schizophrenia both within local brain regions and globally throughout the brain is reviewed and the potential relationship of these changes to cognitive and clinical symptoms is discussed. Finally we propose some suggestions for future research.
目的分析精神分裂症（sehizophTenia，SZ）的脑表面积损伤情况及其与儿茶酚胺氧位甲基转移酶（catechnol-O-methyltransferase，COMT）基因的相关性，并探索家族性精神分裂症（familial patients with schizophrenia，FPS）和散发性精神分裂症（sporadic patients with schizophrenia，SPS）两亚型之间受损模式的差异。方法纳入98例首发及未治疗的SZ患者（58例SPS、40例FPS），78名正常对照。采用聚合酶链反应-限制性片段长度多态分析对受试者进行COMT基因分型。采集3．0T磁共振图像，应用Freesuffer软件分析sP和对照脑表面积的差异及其与COMT基因型的相关性。比较FPS、SPS和对照等3组的脑表面积。对多重比较结果进行Monte Carlo（P〈0．05）校正。结果SZ患者左前额叶和右枕叶脑区表面积减少，两组脑表面积与COMT基因型均无相关性。SPS患者左前额叶表面积低于FPS患者和对照；SPS患者右侧枕叶表面积低于对照。FPS与对照相比差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。结论SZ患者存在脑表面积损害，但与COMT基因型不相关。SPS患者受损大于FPS患者，提示两种SZ可能具有不同的发病机制。
