Glutamate/GABA+ ratio is associated with the psychosocial domain of autistic and schizotypal traits

PLoS One. 2017 Jul 31;12(7):e0181961. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0181961. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

Background: The autism and schizophrenia spectra overlap to a large degree in the social and interpersonal domains. Similarly, abnormal excitatory glutamate and inhibitory γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurotransmitter concentrations have been reported for both spectra, with the interplay of these neurotransmitters important for cortical excitation to inhibition regulation. This study investigates whether these neurotransmitter abnormalities are specific to the shared symptomatology, and whether the degree of abnormality increases with increasing symptom severity. Hence, the relationship between the glutamate/GABA ratio and autism and schizophrenia spectrum traits in an unmedicated, subclinical population was investigated.

Methods: A total of 37 adults (19 female, 18 male) aged 18-38 years completed the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) and Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ), and participated in the resting state proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy study in which sequences specific for quantification of glutamate and GABA+ concentration were applied to a right and left superior temporal voxel.

Results: There were significant, moderate, positive relationships between right superior temporal glutamate/GABA+ ratio and AQ, SPQ and AQ+SPQ total scores (p<0.05), SPQ subscales Social Anxiety, No Close Friend, Constricted Affect, Odd Behaviour, Odd Speech, Ideas of Reference and Suspiciousness, and AQ subscales Social Skills, Communication and Attention Switching (p<0.05); increased glutamate/GABA+ coinciding with higher scores on these subscales. Only the relationships between glutamate/GABA+ ratio and Social Anxiety, Constricted Affect, Social Skills and Communication survived multiple comparison correction (p< 0.004). Left superior temporal glutamate/GABA+ ratio reduced with increasing restricted imagination (p<0.05).

Conclusion: These findings demonstrate evidence for an association between excitatory/inhibitory neurotransmitter concentrations and symptoms that are shared between the autism and schizophrenia spectra.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Anxiety
  • Attention
  • Autistic Disorder / pathology*
  • Autistic Disorder / psychology*
  • Behavior
  • Communication
  • Female
  • Glutamic Acid / analysis*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Neurotransmitter Agents / analysis*
  • Personality Tests
  • Phenotype
  • Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Schizotypal Personality Disorder / pathology*
  • Schizotypal Personality Disorder / psychology*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Young Adult
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / analysis*

Substances

  • Neurotransmitter Agents
  • Glutamic Acid
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid

Grants and funding

Funding for this study was provided by a Swinburne University Neuroimaging Grant and The National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia, APP1004740.