Neuroplasticity of excitatory and inhibitory cortical circuits in schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in cognitive processes mediated by the circuitry of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). These deficits are associated with a range of alterations in DLPFC circuitry, some of which reflect the pathology of the illness and others of which reflect the neuroplasticity of the brain in response to the underlying disease process. This article reviews disturbances in excitatory and inhibitory components of DLPFC circuitry from the perspective of developmental neuroplasticity and discusses their implications for the identification of novel therapeutic targets.