N C Andreasen1. 1. Mental Health Clinical Research Center, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City 52242, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Explaining the diversity of symptoms that occur in schizophrenia is a major conceptual challenge. Perhaps the most powerful strategy is to identify a fundamental cognitive process and/or a fundamental neural circuit. METHODS: Convergent data from our research group in Iowa and from investigators in other centres are summarized. RESULTS: The thalamus plays a key role in information processing. A defect in circuitry connecting the thalamus, frontal cortex, and cerebellum could explain a wide range of symptoms. Neuropathology and imaging studies suggest that patients with schizophrenia may have abnormalities in this circuitry. CONCLUSION: The fundamental deficit in schizophrenia may be conceptualized as a "cognitive dysmetria" characterized by impairments in coordinating the perception, encoding, retrieval, and prioritization of experience and information.
BACKGROUND: Explaining the diversity of symptoms that occur in schizophrenia is a major conceptual challenge. Perhaps the most powerful strategy is to identify a fundamental cognitive process and/or a fundamental neural circuit. METHODS: Convergent data from our research group in Iowa and from investigators in other centres are summarized. RESULTS: The thalamus plays a key role in information processing. A defect in circuitry connecting the thalamus, frontal cortex, and cerebellum could explain a wide range of symptoms. Neuropathology and imaging studies suggest that patients with schizophrenia may have abnormalities in this circuitry. CONCLUSION: The fundamental deficit in schizophrenia may be conceptualized as a "cognitive dysmetria" characterized by impairments in coordinating the perception, encoding, retrieval, and prioritization of experience and information.
Authors: Jessica I Fleck; Deborah L Green; Jennifer L Stevenson; Lisa Payne; Edward M Bowden; Mark Jung-Beeman; John Kounios Journal: Cortex Date: 2008-08-15 Impact factor: 4.027