The neuromediator mechanisms of the cognitive deficit in schizophrenia

Abstract

In this review, we summarized the modern concepts on the association between a cognitive deficit in schizophrenia and alterations of the functional activities of different neuromediator systems. We analyzed the modern experimental data on the roles of the monoaminergic, aminoacidergic, and cholinergic systems of the brain in the mechanisms of attention and executive functions, as well as in the disturbances of these cognitive processes that occur in patients with schizophrenia. Special attention is paid to the mechanisms of neurotransmission in the prefrontal cortex and striatum. We show that with a high probability the cognitive deficit in schizophrenia is determined by the individual profile of disturbances of neuromediator processes. Identification of the individual mechanisms of a cognitive deficit at the level of neurotransmission may be used for the formation of a complex and selective strategy that is directed at the maintenance and recovery of functions, including both pharmacotherapy and non drug methods of treatment.

Comparative Analysis of Dopaminergic and Cholinergic Mechanisms of Sensory and Sensorimotor Gating in Healthy Individuals and in Patients With Schizophrenia

“…In this regard, of particular interest are the data obtained by Swerdlow et al ( 2017 ), who found that amphetamine caused an increase in PPI at an SOA of 60 ms in patients with schizophrenia and the level of enhanced PPI positively correlated with positive symptoms. Positive correlations between PPI level and hallucinations were also found in schizophrenic patients (Storozheva et al, 2015 ). At that, Cadenhead ( 2011 ) assessed PPI in medication naive early psychosis are at risk psychosis subjects.…”

“…Two main hypotheses about neurotransmitter disorders in schizophrenia consider the abnormal functioning of dopaminergic and glutamatergic signaling. The interaction of glutamatergic and dopaminergic systems in the prefrontal cortex plays a significant role in the mechanisms of attention and executive control (Aquila and Citrome, 2015 ; Storozheva et al, 2015 ). Of note, the results of the animal studies showed relatively independent pathways for the participation of glutamatergic and dopaminergic transmission in the mechanisms of PPI (Keith et al, 1991 ; Callahan et al, 2014 ; Oliveras et al, 2017 ).…”

The role of norepinephrine in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia

“…More generally, we propose that future work should focus on studying the NE and other neuromodulatory systems, not in isolation, but in conjunction, in order to unravel the roles that each system has in determining behavior (Storozheva et al, 2015). Future work should Relatively high temporal resolution to study task-evoked LC activity with low budget; non-invasive.…”