Attentional networks and cingulum bundle in chronic schizophrenia

Thirty patients with chronic schizophrenia and 30 age-matched controls performed the Attention Network Test (ANT). A subset of the patient group (n = 18) also had available magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) measures of the cingulum bundle (CB) fractional anisotropy and volume. The patients showed a significantly different pattern of ANT performance, characterized primarily by decreased alerting efficiency. In addition, left CB fractional anisotropy correlated significantly with orienting of attention. Smaller right CB volume also correlated with reduced alertness, but not when covarying for medication and illness duration.