Preserved White Matter Structure at the Gray Matter–White Matter Interface Despite Widespread Cortical Thinning in Early Psychosis

Abstract

Background: Early psychosis is characterized by widespread cortical gray matter (GM) reductions. White matter (WM) alterations have also been reported. The GM-WM interface may represent a link between cortical GM and WM alterations that remains understudied. As the interface matures later in development than deep WM, it may be particularly vulnerable to neurodevelopmental disruptions in schizophrenia spectrum disorders. However, its complex fiber architecture and proximity to the cortex pose challenges for conventional diffusion tensor imaging. Methods: We applied an advanced diffusion magnetic resonance imaging approach to assess fiber density (FD) in the GM-WM interface of 78 individuals w..