Cholinergic circuits and signaling in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.
Central cholinergic signaling has long been associated with aspects of memory, motivation, and mood, each affected functions in neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia. In this chapter, we review evidence related to the core hypothesis that dysregulation of central cholinergic signaling contributes to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Although central cholinergic circuits are resistant to simplification-particularly when one tries to parse the contributions of various classes of cholinergic receptors to disease related phenomena--the potential role of ACh signaling in Schizophrenia pathophysiology deserves careful consideration for prospective therapeutics. The established role of cholinergic circuits in attentional tuning is considered along with recent work on how the patterning of cholinergic activity may modulate corticostriatal circuits affected in schizophrenia.
Berman
Joshua A
JA
Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York 10032, USA.
Talmage
David A
DA
Role
Lorna W
LW
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002799:Cholinergic Fibers / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; D000109:Acetylcholine