title: Circuits and brain rhythms in schizophrenia: a wealth of convergent targets.
abstract: Few common neurological illnesses trace back to single molecular disturbances. Many disparate putative causes may co-associate with a single disease state. However, uncovering functional, hierarchical networks of underlying mechanisms can provide a framework in which many primary pathologies converge on more complex, single higher level correlates of disease. This article focuses on cognitive deficits associated with schizophrenia to illustrate: a) How non-invasive EEG biomarkers of cognitive function constitute such a 'higher level correlate' of underlying pathologies. b) How derangement of multiple, cell-specific, molecular processes can converge on such EEG-visible, correlates of disrupted cognitive function. This approach suggests that evidence-based design of multi-target therapies may take advantage of hierarchical patterns of convergence to improve both efficacy and selectivity of disease-intervention.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuroscience, The Medical School, Framlington Place, Newcastle University, Newcastle NE2 4HH, UK. m.a.whittington@ncl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Miles A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Whittington
authors.forename: Anita K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Roopun
authors.forename: Roger D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Traub
authors.forename: Ceri H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Davies
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D058256:Brain Waves / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D006801:Humans; D007395:Interneurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents