People experiencing their first episode of schizophrenia show measurable disruptions in how large-scale brain networks shift over time, according to a study published in BMC Psychiatry on 22 October 2026. Using resting-state functional MRI and a technique called Leading Eigenvector Dynamics Analysis (LEiDA), researchers identified recurrent dynamic functional connectivity states in patients with first-episode schizophrenia and compared them with healthy controls, then linked the differences to performance on a standardized cognitive assessment.
From these data, the team identified four recurring dynamic connectivity states.
Compared with controls, patients showed reduced occurrence and reduced transition probability of a distributed state spanning control, default mode, and attention networks, labeled Mode 3. They also showed increased metastability in the global state and in a cognitive-control-related state, Modes 1 and 2. In addition, the frequency of transitions from the global state to a perceptual-attentional state was elevated in patients. These findings point to altered temporal organization of frontoparietal and default mode systems early in the illness.
The dynamic connectivity measures also related to cognition. Patients were assessed with the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery, and the researchers examined correlations between altered dynamic functional connectivity metrics and cognitive domains. The occurrence of the integration state was positively correlated with processing speed, verbal learning, and visual learning, while the transition frequency of that state was negatively correlated with visual learning performance.
The authors conclude that first-episode schizophrenia involves alterations in the temporal coordination of large-scale brain networks, and that dynamic connectivity abnormalities, particularly in frontoparietal and default mode systems, are associated with cognitive dysfunction. They suggest the findings support further investigation of dynamic functional connectivity measures for early schizophrenia.
Subject of Research: Dynamic functional connectivity abnormalities and cognitive dysfunction in first-episode schizophrenia
Article Title: Altered dynamic functional connectivity states and cognitive dysfunctions in first-episode schizophrenia: evidence from leading eigenvector dynamics analysis
Article References: Song, X., Yang, C., Zhou, J., Zeng, N., Wang, M., Zhang, K., Wang, Z., Jiao, X., Wang, J., & Hu, Q. (2026). Altered dynamic functional connectivity states and cognitive dysfunctions in first-episode schizophrenia: evidence from leading eigenvector dynamics analysis. BMC Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-026-08740-4
Image Credits: AI Generated
DOI: 10.1186/s12888-026-08740-4
Keywords: schizophrenia, first-episode schizophrenia, dynamic functional connectivity, LEiDA, resting-state fMRI, cognitive dysfunction, default mode network, frontoparietal networks, metastability, MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery, BMC Psychiatry, Altered
News Source: Glenn Wilkins. (October 28, 2026). Brain Network Dynamics Shift in First-Episode Schizophrenia, Tied to Cognitive Problems. Scienmag.
