Lateral asymmetry in the shape of brain ventricles in control and schizophrenia groups

We use point distribution models (PDMs) to investigate lateral asymmetries in the shape of brain ventricles between control subjects and people with schizophrenia. Ventricle surfaces were extracted from T2-weighted MR images and PDMs generated using structural correspondences on the individual surfaces. Using paired linear discriminant analysis we calculate the vector in shape space that maximally separates the shapes of right and left ventricles in the group. The magnitude of the asymmetry is quantified by projection of the individual ventricle shapes onto this vector. We observe significant differences in the magnitude of the asymmetry in both schizophrenia and control groups. There is also a clear difference in the pattern of asymmetry. Male and female subgroups show different magnitudes and patterns of asymmetry, in both groups.