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Rethinking schizophrenia in the context of normal neurodevelopment
Vibeke S Catts1, Samantha J Fung, Leonora E Long
1Schizophrenia Research Laboratory, Schizophrenia Research Institute Sydney, NSW, Australia ; Neuroscience Research Australia Sydney, NSW, Australia ; School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience
|May 31, 2013
Summary
Schizophrenia may stem from altered brain development, particularly in the prefrontal cortex during adolescence. Understanding these protracted neurodevelopmental changes is key to interpreting psychosis and gray matter abnormalities.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Schizophrenia is increasingly viewed as a neurodevelopmental disorder.
- Subtle brain changes in schizophrenia overlap significantly with normal variations.
- Understanding aberrant development requires robust data on normal human brain development, especially the cortex.
Purpose of the Study:
- To place schizophrenia neuropathology within a neurodevelopmental context.
- To chart major molecular, cellular, and behavioral events in prefrontal cortex development.
- To revise current understanding of neurodevelopmental timing in humans.
Main Methods:
- Review of normative human brain development, focusing on the prefrontal cortex.
- Analysis of developmental timelines for cognitive abilities, neurogenesis, neuronal migration, myelination, and synapse development.
- Examination of molecular changes in neurotransmitter signaling and drug abuse response across the lifespan.
Main Results:
- Cognitive maturation, including attention and memory, takes decades.
- Neurogenesis, neuronal migration, myelination, and synapse development occur over extended periods.
- Neurotransmitter pathways and drug responses change throughout life.
Conclusions:
- Current concepts of cortical neuronal migration, interneuron maturation, and synaptic regression may need revision.
- Adolescent neurodevelopmental changes require greater emphasis.
- Updated understanding of post-natal neurodevelopment aids interpretation of gray matter changes and psychosis emergence in schizophrenia.
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