Schizophrenia seen as a deficit in the modulation of cortical minicolumns by monoaminergic systems

Abstract

The highly evolved architecture of the cerebral cortex is organized across hierarchical levels that maximize functional repertoires (emergent properties) and expedite information processing. Minicolumns are nested within this multiscale architecture as the smallest module capable of processing information. Signals are transmitted within minicolumns through massive ion-gated connections and modulated through slower onset second messenger systems. The terminal zones of the modulatory second messenger systems comprise the laminae of the cortex. A comprehensive review of the literature suggests that schizophrenia results from widely distributed changes at the level of the cerebral cortex and little, if any, neuronal somatic changes: (Esiri & Crow, 2002). Concordant with this observation recent studies indicate that schizophrenic patients have an alteration of neuronal connectivity according to both lamina and brain region examined. One possible explanation for this deficit is an alteration in the modulatory system of cortical minicolumns. This ontogenetic deficit propitiates a cascade of neurochemical changes resulting in varying abnormalities relating information processing to behavioural states.

Uncovering Cortical Modularity by Nanotechnology

“…This may be accomplished by designing artificial minicolumns that can be surgically inserted into the human brain, or using nanowire contacts to place a device with minicolumn function within the damaged circuitry (Lebedev and Nicolelis 2006;Bokara et al 2013;Marmarelis et al 2014). In the future, such microcircuit based prostheses will provide efficient therapies for patients with neurological and psychiatric disorders (Casanova 2007(Casanova , 2013Casanova et al 2008;Chance et al 2011). Moreover, neural enhancement approaches may be applied to inter-laminar microcircuits across the entire cortex (Opris 2013).…”

Modularity in philosophy, the neurosciences, and psychiatry

“…Jablensky used the term ''modular endophenotypes'' to describe a distinct pattern of neurocognitive or neurophysiological deficits in schizophrenia (Jablensky 2004). The theory of modularity has also been applied in research into the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders based on the mini-column structure of the human neocortex (Casanova 2003), for example in autism as a ''minicolumnopathy'' (Casanova 2006) or schizophrenia as a deficit in the modulation of minicolumns by monoaminergic systems (Casanova 2007).…”

Extraction of Cortical Modularity Patterns for Neural Prosthetics

“…Furthermore, disruption of inter-laminar microcircuits within cortical minicolumns is a signature of a broad spectrum of neurologic and psychiatric disorders e.g. autism, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's and drug addiction (Casanova 2007(Casanova , 2008Casanova et al 2007;Chance et al 2006Chance et al , 2011Opris et al 2012a). Recent technological advances provided an unprecedented insight into cortical modularity and function of primate brain suggesting that targeting cortical microcircuitry is key to the development of successful medical treatments and enhancement methods including neural prosthetics.…”