In a recent quantitative neuroimaging study, the authors reported
significant reduction in the gray matter volume of both temporal lobes of
schizophrenic (SC) patients. In order to better elucidate the nature of
this finding (i.e., diffuse vs. focal), we analyzed the shape of the
temporal lobes of 17 SC patients and an equal number of age-sex matched
controls. Our shape analysis was able to discriminate between a significant
number of SC and control patients based on the Fourier harmonic amplitudes
of both the middle and posterior levels of the temporal lobes. These
results are consistent with bilateral focal or multifocal distortions of
the temporal lobes of SC patients. A similar shape analysis of the
prefrontal lobes showed no significant conformational differences between
the groups. The basis of this quantitative shape analysis (the Fourier
expansion series) and the method by which it can be applied are explained
in detail.Abstract Teaser