OBJECTIVES: In the present study, we used Activation Likelihood Estimation (ALE) meta-analysis to quantitatively examine brain grey matter reduction in schizophrenia patients with persistent negative symptoms (PNS).
METHOD: A total of 12 voxel-based morphometry (VBM) studies were included in ALE meta-analysis using more stringent criterion of PNS.
RESULTS: Significant grey matter reduction in the PNS group relative to controls was observed in the left caudate nucleus, the left precentral region, the left middle frontal region, the bilateral parahippocampal region, the left anterior cingulate region, the bilateral medial frontal gyrus, the thalamus and the insula.
CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that brain regions in the reward network may be specifically related to PNS, especially the left caudate nucleus. It is possible that abnormality in reward processing may constitute the neural basis of PNS.