title: Schizophrenia as a disorder of disconnectivity.
abstract: Schizophrenia is considered as a neurodevelopmental disorder with genetic and environmental factors playing a role. Animal models show that developmental hippocampal lesions are causing disconnectivity of the prefrontal cortex. Magnetic resonance imaging and postmortem investigations revealed deficits in the temporoprefrontal neuronal circuit. Decreased oligodendrocyte numbers and expression of oligodendrocyte genes and synaptic proteins may contribute to disturbances of micro- and macro-circuitry in the pathophysiology of the disease. Functional connectivity between cortical areas can be investigated with high temporal resolution using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), electroencephalography (EEG), and magnetoencephalography (MEG). In this review, disconnectivity between different cortical areas in schizophrenia patients is described. The specificity and the neurobiological origin of these connectivity deficits and the relation to the symptom complex of schizophrenia and the glutamatergic and GABAergic system are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Göttingen, Von-Siebold-Str. 5, 37075 Göttingen, Germany. aschmit@gwdg.de
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schmitt
authors.forename: Alkomiet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hasan
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gruber
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Falkai
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods; D004569:Electroencephalography; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D015225:Magnetoencephalography; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000473:pathology*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
chemical_list: D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents