Inhibition in schizophrenia
Inflammation and depression
Health use patterns
Not so identical
Visual empowerment
Drug risks
Medication and memory
Stress and neurons
Virtual treatment
Mapping brain networks
Neurons and dendrites
Alcohol on the brain
Connecting for care
Parkinson’s and proteins
Personality and treatment
Driving reactions
Parenting profiles
The Toronto plot
Inhibition in schizophrenia
Is the brain’s main “calming” neurotransmitter not working properly in people with schizophrenia?
[Answer]
The brain’s excitatory neurotransmitters carry electrochemical information throughout the brain. Inhibitory neurotransmitters, such as GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), help calm or inhibit these excitatory neurons.
This topography plot shows inhibition to the part of the brain responsible for working memory, planning and decision making, after applying brain stimulation. Three groups are shown: people with schizophrenia (middle row), with no diagnosis (top) and with obsessive-compulsive disorder (bottom). Each plot combines results from all participants in each group, using measures from brain stimulation and electroencephalography (EEG).
The red areas, which indicate inhibition, are clearly less pronounced or non-existent in people with schizophrenia, indicating deficits in functioning of GABA inhibition.
Source: Dr. Jeff Daskalakis, Dr. Natasha Radhu