Evidence suggests functional brain networks, especially the executive control network (ECN) and default mode network (DMN), to be abnormal in schizophrenia. Dysfunctions within the locus coeruleus (LC)‐noradrenaline (NE) system, which is supposed to be pivotal to modulate neuronal network activation during executive control (e.g., working memory function), are also considered to play a vital role in the occurrence of positive (e.g., hallucinatory) or negative (e.g., inattentive) symptoms in these patients. In the present study, we sought to shed further light on the role of the LC‐NE system in patients with schizophrenia. More specifically, we wanted to improve our understanding of the relationship and possible disturbances of the ECN and DMN during a working memory task in patients. A total of 58 healthy control subjects and 40 medicated patients with schizophrenia were investigated using a working memory 3‐back task during functional magnetic resonance imaging. Main findings of our present study were differential dynamics of ECN and DMN blood oxygenation level‐dependent (BOLD) activations with increasing task demands in both patients and controls. Moreover, we found increased BOLD activation in the LC in patients compared to controls in the interaction contrast between groups and conditions. LC BOLD activation significantly correlated with both, the main hub of the ECN, that is, the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, and of the DMN, that is, the posterior cingulate cortex. Thus, the LC‐NE system seems to be crucial in modulating neuronal network activity in a 3‐back working memory task and might significantly contribute to cognitive impairments in schizophrenia.

中文翻译：

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精神分裂症的工作记忆：蓝斑基因的作用及其与功能性脑网络的关系

有证据表明，功能性大脑网络，尤其是执行控制网络（ECN）和默认模式网络（DMN）在精神分裂症中是异常的。假设在执行控制过程中，蓝藻（LC）-去甲肾上腺素（NE）系统内的功能失调对于调节神经元网络的激活至关重要（例如，工作记忆功能），也被认为在阳性反应的发生中起着至关重要的作用。这些患者的症状（例如幻觉）或阴性（例如注意力不集中）。在本研究中，我们试图进一步阐明LC‐NE系统在精神分裂症患者中的作用。更具体地说，我们想增进我们对患者工作记忆任务期间ECN和DMN的关系和可能的干扰的理解。在功能性磁共振成像过程中，使用工作记忆3后任务对总共58名健康对照受试者和40名患有精神分裂症的含药患者进行了调查。我们当前研究的主要发现是随着患者和对照组任务需求的增加，ECN和DMN血液氧合水平依赖性（BOLD）激活的差异动力学。而且，我们发现与对照组相比，组和病情之间的交互作用相比，患者LC中的BOLD激活增加。LC BOLD激活与ECN的主要中心（即背外侧前额叶皮层）和DMN（即后扣带皮层）均显着相关。因此，