1
|
Perez SM, Elam HB, McCoy AM, Boley AM, Eassa NE, Lodge DJ. Congenital blindness does not protect against a schizophrenia-related phenotype in rodents. Schizophr Res 2023; 258:1-8. [PMID: 37364392 PMCID: PMC10529675 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2023.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In 1950, Drs. Chevigny and Braverman authored a book about people's attitudes and prejudices toward the blind, noting that out of the thousands of schizophrenia patients they and others had treated, not one was blind. This led some to the intriguing hypothesis that congenital blindness may provide protection against schizophrenia. In this study, we directly examined whether congenital blindness protects against a schizophrenia-related phenotype in the methylazoxymethanol acetate (MAM) rodent model. DESIGN Enucleation surgeries were performed on pups of MAM- or saline-treated rats on post-natal day 10. Once pups reached adulthood, male and female rats were evaluated for schizophrenia-like phenotypes using behavioral and electrophysiological measures. Consistent with previous work, MAM-treated rats display elevated dopamine neuron population activity, deficits in pre-pulse inhibition of startle, and hypersensitivity to psychomotor stimulants. RESULTS Blindness did not protect against any of the MAM-induced phenotypes. Surprisingly, blindness in saline-treated rats caused changes in behavior and dopamine neuron activity. To examine the circadian rhythms of enucleated rats, we performed non-invasive measurements of corticosterone, a steroid hormone known to vary across the light/dark period, revealing blind rats display aberrant (non-cycling) corticosterone levels. CONCLUSIONS Alterations in dopamine neuron activity and associated behaviors observed in blind rats are likely secondary to aberrant circadian regulation. This is the first preclinical study examining whether congenital blindness protects against a schizophrenia-like phenotype. While support of this hypothesis would have led to novel avenues of research and potential novel therapies, the results of current study suggest that blindness does not protect against schizophrenia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie M Perez
- Department of Pharmacology and Center for Biomedical Neuroscience, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA; South Texas Veterans Health Care System, Audie L. Murphy Division, San Antonio, TX, USA.
| | - Hannah B Elam
- Department of Pharmacology and Center for Biomedical Neuroscience, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA; South Texas Veterans Health Care System, Audie L. Murphy Division, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Alexandra M McCoy
- Department of Pharmacology and Center for Biomedical Neuroscience, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA; South Texas Veterans Health Care System, Audie L. Murphy Division, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Angela M Boley
- Department of Pharmacology and Center for Biomedical Neuroscience, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA; South Texas Veterans Health Care System, Audie L. Murphy Division, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Nicole E Eassa
- Department of Pharmacology and Center for Biomedical Neuroscience, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA; South Texas Veterans Health Care System, Audie L. Murphy Division, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Daniel J Lodge
- Department of Pharmacology and Center for Biomedical Neuroscience, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA; South Texas Veterans Health Care System, Audie L. Murphy Division, San Antonio, TX, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Motlaghian SM, Belger A, Bustillo JR, Ford JM, Iraji A, Lim K, Mathalon DH, Mueller BA, O'Leary D, Pearlson G, Potkin SG, Preda A, van Erp TGM, Calhoun VD. Nonlinear functional network connectivity in resting functional magnetic resonance imaging data. Hum Brain Mapp 2022; 43:4556-4566. [PMID: 35762454 PMCID: PMC9491296 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.25972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
In this work, we focus on explicitly nonlinear relationships in functional networks. We introduce a technique using normalized mutual information (NMI) that calculates the nonlinear relationship between different brain regions. We demonstrate our proposed approach using simulated data and then apply it to a dataset previously studied by Damaraju et al. This resting-state fMRI data included 151 schizophrenia patients and 163 age- and gender-matched healthy controls. We first decomposed these data using group independent component analysis (ICA) and yielded 47 functionally relevant intrinsic connectivity networks. Our analysis showed a modularized nonlinear relationship among brain functional networks that was particularly noticeable in the sensory and visual cortex. Interestingly, the modularity appears both meaningful and distinct from that revealed by the linear approach. Group analysis identified significant differences in explicitly nonlinear functional network connectivity (FNC) between schizophrenia patients and healthy controls, particularly in the visual cortex, with controls showing more nonlinearity (i.e., higher normalized mutual information between time courses with linear relationships removed) in most cases. Certain domains, including subcortical and auditory, showed relatively less nonlinear FNC (i.e., lower normalized mutual information), whereas links between the visual and other domains showed evidence of substantial nonlinear and modular properties. Overall, these results suggest that quantifying nonlinear dependencies of functional connectivity may provide a complementary and potentially important tool for studying brain function by exposing relevant variation that is typically ignored. Beyond this, we propose a method that captures both linear and nonlinear effects in a "boosted" approach. This method increases the sensitivity to group differences compared to the standard linear approach, at the cost of being unable to separate linear and nonlinear effects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sara M. Motlaghian
- Tri‐institutional Center for Translational Research in Neuroimaging and Data Science (TReNDS)Georgia State, Georgia Tech, EmoryAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
| | - Aysenil Belger
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of North CarolinaChapel HillNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Juan R. Bustillo
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of New MexicoAlbuquerqueNew MexicoUSA
| | - Judith M. Ford
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of California San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
- San Francisco VA Medical CenterSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Armin Iraji
- Tri‐institutional Center for Translational Research in Neuroimaging and Data Science (TReNDS)Georgia State, Georgia Tech, EmoryAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
| | - Kelvin Lim
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of MinnesotaMinneapolisMinnesotaUSA
| | - Daniel H. Mathalon
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of California San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
- San Francisco VA Medical CenterSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Bryon A. Mueller
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of MinnesotaMinneapolisMinnesotaUSA
| | - Daniel O'Leary
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of IowaIowa CityIowaUSA
| | - Godfrey Pearlson
- Department of Psychiatry and NeurobiologyYale School of MedicineNew HavenConnecticutUSA
| | - Steven G. Potkin
- Department of Psychiatry and Human BehaviorUniversity of California IrvineIrvineCaliforniaUSA
| | - Adrian Preda
- Department of Psychiatry and Human BehaviorUniversity of California IrvineIrvineCaliforniaUSA
| | - Theo G. M. van Erp
- Department of Psychiatry and Human BehaviorUniversity of California IrvineIrvineCaliforniaUSA
| | - Vince D. Calhoun
- Tri‐institutional Center for Translational Research in Neuroimaging and Data Science (TReNDS)Georgia State, Georgia Tech, EmoryAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Shoham N, Cooper C. Eyes, the window on psychosis? BJPsych Open 2022; 8:e44. [PMID: 35139983 PMCID: PMC8867869 DOI: 10.1192/bjo.2022.16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Much has been written on the theory that congenital blindness might protect against schizophrenia, but proof remains elusive. It has been suggested that visual ability might be associated with schizophrenia in a bell-shaped distribution, with both lifelong absent and perfect vision being protective. Alternatively, ocular aberrations and schizophrenia may share an aetiology. Any neuronal pathology implicated in schizophrenia could affect the retina, since it is an embryological extension of the brain. The retina is more amenable to direct imaging than other parts of the central nervous system and may give unique insights into schizophrenia-associated neuropathology. It is also possible that psychosis causes visual impairment: people with psychotic illnesses are probably not accessing optical care optimally and have higher levels of risk factors for visual loss.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Shoham
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London (UCL), UK; and Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust, St Pancras Hospital, London, UK
| | - Claudia Cooper
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London (UCL), UK; and Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust, St Pancras Hospital, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Hettwer MD, Lancaster TM, Raspor E, Hahn PK, Mota NR, Singer W, Reif A, Linden DEJ, Bittner RA. Evidence From Imaging Resilience Genetics for a Protective Mechanism Against Schizophrenia in the Ventral Visual Pathway. Schizophr Bull 2022; 48:551-562. [PMID: 35137221 PMCID: PMC9077432 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbab151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Illuminating neurobiological mechanisms underlying the protective effect of recently discovered common genetic resilience variants for schizophrenia is crucial for more effective prevention efforts. Current models implicate adaptive neuroplastic changes in the visual system and their pro-cognitive effects as a schizophrenia resilience mechanism. We investigated whether common genetic resilience variants might affect brain structure in similar neural circuits. METHOD Using structural magnetic resonance imaging, we measured the impact of an established schizophrenia polygenic resilience score (PRSResilience) on cortical volume, thickness, and surface area in 101 healthy subjects and in a replication sample of 33 224 healthy subjects (UK Biobank). FINDING We observed a significant positive whole-brain correlation between PRSResilience and cortical volume in the right fusiform gyrus (FFG) (r = 0.35; P = .0004). Post-hoc analyses in this cluster revealed an impact of PRSResilience on cortical surface area. The replication sample showed a positive correlation between PRSResilience and global cortical volume and surface area in the left FFG. CONCLUSION Our findings represent the first evidence of a neurobiological correlate of a genetic resilience factor for schizophrenia. They support the view that schizophrenia resilience emerges from strengthening neural circuits in the ventral visual pathway and an increased capacity for the disambiguation of social and nonsocial visual information. This may aid psychosocial functioning, ameliorate the detrimental effects of subtle perceptual and cognitive disturbances in at-risk individuals, and facilitate coping with the cognitive and psychosocial consequences of stressors. Our results thus provide a novel link between visual cognition, the vulnerability-stress concept, and schizophrenia resilience models.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Meike D Hettwer
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine, and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany,Max Planck School of Cognition, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany,Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Brain & Behaviour (INM-7), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany,Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Thomas M Lancaster
- School of Psychology, Bath University, Bath, UK,MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Eva Raspor
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine, and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Peter K Hahn
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine, and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Nina Roth Mota
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands,Department of Psychiatry, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Wolf Singer
- Ernst Strüngmann Institute for Neuroscience (ESI) in Cooperation with Max Planck Society, Frankfurt am Main, Germany,Max Planck Institute for Brain Research (MPI BR), Frankfurt am Main, Germany,Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies (FIAS), Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Andreas Reif
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine, and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - David E J Linden
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK,School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Robert A Bittner
- To whom correspondence should be addressed; Heinrich-Hoffmann-Str. 10, D-60528 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; tel: 69-6301-84713, fax: 69-6301-81775, e-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Zhuo C, Xiao B, Ji F, Lin X, Jiang D, Tian H, Xu Y, Wang W, Chen C. Patients with first-episode untreated schizophrenia who experience concomitant visual disturbances and auditory hallucinations exhibit co-impairment of the brain and retinas-a pilot study. Brain Imaging Behav 2021; 15:1533-1541. [PMID: 32748321 DOI: 10.1007/s11682-020-00351-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
There are limited structural brain and retina alteration data from schizophrenia patients who experience visual disturbances (VDs) with or without auditory hallucinations (AHs). We compared brain and retina alterations between first-episode untreated schizophrenia patients with VDs (FUSCH-VDs) with versus without AHs, and between patients and healthy controls (HCs)(N = 30/group). VDs, AHs, gray matter volumes (GMVs), and retinal thicknesses were evaluated with the Bonn Scale for Assessment of Basic Symptoms (BSABS) scale, the Auditory Hallucinations Rating Scale (AHRS), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and optical coherence tomography (OCT), respectively. Compared to HCs, FUSCH-VDs had reduced GMVs, mainly in dorsal V3/V3A and V5 regions, the fusiform gyrus, and ventral V4 and V8 regions. Most FUSCH-VDs (85.0%; 51/60) had primary visual cortex-retina co-impairments. FUSCH-VDs with AHs had more serious and larger scope GMV reductions than FUSCH-VDs without AHs. FUSCH-VDs with AHs had significant retinal thickness reductions compared to HCs. Primary visual cortex-retina co-impairments were found to be more common, and more pronounced when present, in FUSCH-VDs with AHs than in FUSCH-VDs without AHs. The present findings support the notion that VDs and AHs may have reciprocal deteriorating actions in patients with schizophrenia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chuanjun Zhuo
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Mental Health, Jining Medical University, Jining, 272119, Shandong, China. .,Psychiatric-Neuroimaging-Genetics Laboratory, Wenzhou Seventh People's Hospital, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325000, China. .,Psychiatric-Neuroimaging-Genetics-Comorbidity Laboratory, Tianjin Mental Health Centre, Tianjin Anding Hospital, Mental Health Teaching Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300222, China.
| | - Bo Xiao
- Department of OCT, Tianjin Eye Hospital, Tianjin, 300034, China
| | - Feng Ji
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Mental Health, Jining Medical University, Jining, 272119, Shandong, China
| | - Xiaodong Lin
- Psychiatric-Neuroimaging-Genetics Laboratory, Wenzhou Seventh People's Hospital, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325000, China
| | - Deguo Jiang
- Psychiatric-Neuroimaging-Genetics Laboratory, Wenzhou Seventh People's Hospital, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325000, China
| | - Hongjun Tian
- Psychiatric-Neuroimaging-Genetics-Comorbidity Laboratory, Tianjin Mental Health Centre, Tianjin Anding Hospital, Mental Health Teaching Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300222, China
| | - Yong Xu
- Department of Psychiatry, First Hospital/First Clinical Medical College of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China.,MDT Center for Cognitive Impairment and Sleep Disorders, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, Shanxi, China
| | - Wenqiang Wang
- Co-collaboration Laboratory of China and Canada, Xiamen Xianyue Hospital and University of Alberta, Xiamen, 361000, Fujian, China
| | - Ce Chen
- Psychiatric-Neuroimaging-Genetics Laboratory, Wenzhou Seventh People's Hospital, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325000, China.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Abstract
It is now well documented that schizophrenia is associated with impairments in visual processing at all levels of vision, and that these disturbances are related to deficits in multiple higher-level cognitive and social cognitive functions. Visual remediation methods have been slow to appear in the literature as a potential treatment strategy to target these impairments, however, in contrast to interventions that aim to improve auditory and higher cognitive functions in schizophrenia. In this report, we describe a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)-funded R61/R33 grant that uses a phased approach to optimize and evaluate a novel visual remediation intervention for people with schizophrenia. The goals of this project are: (1) in the R61 phase, to establish the optimal components and dose (number of sessions) of a visual remediation intervention from among two specific visual training strategies (and their combination) for improving low and mid-level visual functions in schizophrenia; and (2) in the R33 phase, to determine the extent to which the optimal intervention improves not only visual processing but also higher-level cognitive and role functions. Here we present the scientific background for and innovation of the study, along with our methods, hypotheses, and preliminary data. The results of this study will help determine the utility of this novel intervention approach for targeting visual perceptual, cognitive, and functional impairments in schizophrenia.
Collapse
|
7
|
Jefsen OH, Petersen LV, Bek T, Østergaard SD. Is Early Blindness Protective of Psychosis or Are We Turning a Blind Eye to the Lack of Statistical Power? Schizophr Bull 2020; 46:1335-1336. [PMID: 32232391 PMCID: PMC7707070 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbaa048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Oskar Hougaard Jefsen
- Psychiatric Research Academy, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark,To whom correspondence should be addressed; tel: +45 30112066, e-mail:
| | - Liselotte Vogdrup Petersen
- The National Centre for Register-based Research, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark,The Lundbeck Foundation Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research iPSYCH, Aarhus, Denmark,Centre for Integrated Register-Based Research, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Toke Bek
- Department of Ophthalmology, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Søren Dinesen Østergaard
- Department of Affective Disorders, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Abstract
The relationship between visual loss and psychosis is complex: congenital visual loss appears to be protective against the development of a psychotic disorder, particularly schizophrenia. In later life, however, visual deprivation or visual loss can give rise to hallucinosis, disorders of visual insight such as blindsight or Anton syndrome, or, in the context of neurodegenerative disorders, more complex psychotic presentations. We draw on a computational psychiatric approach to consider the foundational role of vision in the construction of representations of the world and the effects of visual loss at different developmental stages. Using a Bayesian prediction error minimization model, we describe how congenital visual loss may be protective against the development of the kind of computational deficits postulated to underlie schizophrenia, by increasing the precision (and consequent stability) of higher-level (including supramodal) priors, focusing on visual loss-induced changes in NMDA receptor structure and function as a possible mechanistic substrate. In simple terms, we argue that when people cannot see from birth, they rely more heavily on the context they extract from the other senses, and the resulting model of the world is more impervious to the false inferences, made in the face of inevitably noisy perceptual input, that characterize schizophrenia. We show how a Bayesian prediction error minimization framework can also explain the relationship between later visual loss and other psychotic symptoms, as well as the effects of visual deprivation and hallucinogenic drugs, and outline experimentally testable hypotheses generated by this approach.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas A Pollak
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, New Haven, CT,To whom correspondence should be addressed; Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s Health Partners, King’s College London, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AF, UK; tel: +44 (0) 207 848 5135, fax: +44 (0) 207 848 0572, e-mail:
| | - Philip R Corlett
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Yale University, School of Medicine, Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven, CT
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Császár-Nagy N, Kapócs G, Bókkon I. Classic psychedelics: the special role of the visual system. Rev Neurosci 2019; 30:651-669. [PMID: 30939118 DOI: 10.1515/revneuro-2018-0092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2018] [Accepted: 11/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Here, we briefly overview the various aspects of classic serotonergic hallucinogens reported by a number of studies. One of the key hypotheses of our paper is that the visual effects of psychedelics might play a key role in resetting fears. Namely, we especially focus on visual processes because they are among the most prominent features of hallucinogen-induced hallucinations. We hypothesize that our brain has an ancient visual-based (preverbal) intrinsic cognitive process that, during the transient inhibition of top-down convergent and abstract thinking (mediated by the prefrontal cortex) by psychedelics, can neutralize emotional fears of unconscious and conscious life experiences from the past. In these processes, the decreased functional integrity of the self-referencing processes of the default mode network, the modified multisensory integration (linked to bodily self-consciousness and self-awareness), and the modified amygdala activity may also play key roles. Moreover, the emotional reset (elimination of stress-related emotions) by psychedelics may induce psychological changes and overwrite the stress-related neuroepigenetic information of past unconscious and conscious emotional fears.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Noemi Császár-Nagy
- National University of Public Services, Budapest, Hungary.,Psychosomatic Outpatient Clinics, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gábor Kapócs
- Saint John Hospital, Budapest, Hungary.,Institute of Behavioral Sciences, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - István Bókkon
- Psychosomatic Outpatient Clinics, Budapest, Hungary.,Vision Research Institute, Neuroscience and Consciousness Research Department, Lowell, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Császár N, Kapócs G, Bókkon I. A possible key role of vision in the development of schizophrenia. Rev Neurosci 2019; 30:359-379. [PMID: 30244235 DOI: 10.1515/revneuro-2018-0022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2018] [Accepted: 08/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Based on a brief overview of the various aspects of schizophrenia reported by numerous studies, here we hypothesize that schizophrenia may originate (and in part be performed) from visual areas. In other words, it seems that a normal visual system or at least an evanescent visual perception may be an essential prerequisite for the development of schizophrenia as well as of various types of hallucinations. Our study focuses on auditory and visual hallucinations, as they are the most prominent features of schizophrenic hallucinations (and also the most studied types of hallucinations). Here, we evaluate the possible key role of the visual system in the development of schizophrenia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Noemi Császár
- Gaspar Karoly University Psychological Institute, H-1091 Budapest, Hungary.,Psychoszomatic Outpatient Department, H-1037 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gabor Kapócs
- Buda Family Centred Mental Health Centre, Department of Psychiatry and Psychiatric Rehabilitation, St. John Hospital, Budapest, Hungary
| | - István Bókkon
- Psychoszomatic Outpatient Department, H-1037 Budapest, Hungary.,Vision Research Institute, Neuroscience and Consciousness Research Department, 25 Rita Street, Lowell, MA 01854, USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Fleming LM, Javitt DC, Carter CS, Kantrowitz JT, Girgis RR, Kegeles LS, Ragland JD, Maddock RJ, Lesh TA, Tanase C, Robinson J, Potter WZ, Carlson M, Wall MM, Choo TH, Grinband J, Lieberman J, Krystal JH, Corlett PR. A multicenter study of ketamine effects on functional connectivity: Large scale network relationships, hubs and symptom mechanisms. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2019; 22:101739. [PMID: 30852397 PMCID: PMC6411494 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2019.101739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2018] [Revised: 02/24/2019] [Accepted: 02/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Ketamine is an uncompetitive N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) glutamate receptor antagonist. It induces effects in healthy individuals that mimic symptoms associated with schizophrenia. We sought to root these experiences in altered brain function, specifically aberrant resting state functional connectivity (rsfMRI). In the present study, we acquired rsfMRI data under ketamine and placebo in a between-subjects design and analyzed seed-based measures of rsfMRI using large-scale networks, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and sub-nuclei of the thalamus. We found ketamine-induced alterations in rsfMRI connectivity similar to those seen in patients with schizophrenia, some changes that may be more comparable to early stages of schizophrenia, and other connectivity signatures seen in patients that ketamine did not recreate. We do not find any circuits from our regions of interest that correlates with positive symptoms of schizophrenia in our sample, although we find that DLPFC connectivity with ACC does correlate with a mood measure. These results provide support for ketamine's use as a model of certain biomarkers of schizophrenia, particularly for early or at-risk patients. Ketamine altered connectivity in default mode network, thalamus and DLPFC at rest. Similar patterns of altered connectivity are seen with ketamine as in psychotic patients. Mood symptoms correlated with DLPFC connectivity with ACC and frontal orbital cortex.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Leah M Fleming
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States of America; Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Daniel C Javitt
- Department of Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, United States of America; Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Cameron S Carter
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, Davis, United States of America
| | - Joshua T Kantrowitz
- Department of Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, United States of America; Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Ragy R Girgis
- Department of Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Lawrence S Kegeles
- Department of Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - John D Ragland
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, Davis, United States of America
| | - Richard J Maddock
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, Davis, United States of America
| | - Tyler A Lesh
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, Davis, United States of America
| | - Costin Tanase
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, Davis, United States of America
| | - James Robinson
- Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - William Z Potter
- National Institute of Mental Health, Rockville, MD, United States of America
| | - Marlene Carlson
- Department of Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Melanie M Wall
- Department of Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, United States of America; National Institute of Mental Health, Rockville, MD, United States of America
| | - Tse-Hwei Choo
- Department of Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Jack Grinband
- Department of Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey Lieberman
- Department of Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - John H Krystal
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Philip R Corlett
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States of America.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Abstract
The visual tract is prominently involved in schizophrenia, as evidenced by perceptual distortions and a type of nystagmus found in many individuals affected. Genetic explanations for these abnormalities have been suggested. This study proposes an alternate explanation based on infection. Several infectious agents thought to be associated with some cases of schizophrenia are known to cause both infection of the fetus and abnormalities of the eye. Toxoplasma gondii is examined in detail, and rubella, cytomegalovirus, varicella-zoster virus, and herpes simplex virus more briefly. Careful ophthalmic assessments, including funduscopy and direct examination of tissues for infectious agents, will clarify the role of such agents in ocular aspects of schizophrenia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- E. Fuller Torrey
- Stanley Medical Research Institute, 10605 Concord Street, Suite 205, Kensington, MD 20895
| | - Robert H. Yolken
- Stanley Laboratory of Neurovirology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Leivada E. Vision, language and a protective mechanism towards psychosis. Neurosci Lett 2016; 617:178-81. [PMID: 26899155 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2016.02.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2015] [Revised: 01/29/2016] [Accepted: 02/11/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The absence of co-occurrence of schizophrenia with congenital/early blindness (CB) has led to the claim that CB confers protection against schizophrenia. It has recently been shown that the protective effects are particularly reinforced in cases of CB of cortical origin, since cases of CB of peripheral origin and schizophrenia in fact exist. The present work shows that the protection extends to psychosis more broadly and describes the brain basis of the protective mechanism and its relation to the language faculty and the language areas of the brain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Evelina Leivada
- Cyprus Acquisition Team, University of Cyprus, 75 Kallipoleos, P.O. Box 20537, 1087 Nicosia, Cyprus.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Silverstein SM. Visual Perception Disturbances in Schizophrenia: A Unified Model. NEBRASKA SYMPOSIUM ON MOTIVATION. NEBRASKA SYMPOSIUM ON MOTIVATION 2016; 63:77-132. [PMID: 27627825 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-30596-7_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
|
15
|
Benítez-Burraco A, Boeckx C. Possible functional links among brain- and skull-related genes selected in modern humans. Front Psychol 2015; 6:794. [PMID: 26136701 PMCID: PMC4468360 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2015] [Accepted: 05/26/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The sequencing of the genomes from extinct hominins has revealed that changes in some brain-related genes have been selected after the split between anatomically-modern humans and Neanderthals/Denisovans. To date, no coherent view of these changes has been provided. Following a line of research we initiated in Boeckx and Benítez-Burraco (2014a), we hypothesize functional links among most of these genes and their products, based on the existing literature for each of the gene discussed. The genes we focus on are found mutated in different cognitive disorders affecting modern populations and their products are involved in skull and brain morphology, and neural connectivity. If our hypothesis turns out to be on the right track, it means that the changes affecting most of these proteins resulted in a more globular brain and ultimately brought about modern cognition, with its characteristic generativity and capacity to form and exploit cross-modular concepts, properties most clearly manifested in language.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Cedric Boeckx
- Catalan Institute for Research and Advanced Studies , Barcelona, Spain ; Department of Linguistics, Universitat de Barcelona , Barcelona, Spain
| |
Collapse
|