Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Negative and Cognitive Symptoms of Schizophrenia

Negative and Cognitive Symptoms of Schizophrenia

Negative symptoms of schizophrenia indicate a reduction or absence of typical behaviors and emotional responses found in healthy individuals, while positive symptoms reflect an excess or distortion of normal functioning.
Negative Symptoms
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia manifest as deficits in normal emotional and behavioral functioning, profoundly impacting daily life. Individuals with schizophrenia often display a flat affect, characterized by a near-total absence of emotional expression,...

Language and Cognition

Language and Cognition

Language serves as a bridge between ideas and communication, influencing how individuals perceive and interact with the world. Psychologists have long debated whether language shapes thought or vice versa. This discussion gained grip with Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf in the 1940s, who proposed that language determines thought, a concept known as linguistic determinism. They suggested that the vocabulary and structure of a language influence how its speakers think and perceive reality.

Cognitive Enhancers: Cholinesterase Inhibitors and NMDA Receptor Antagonists

Cognitive Enhancers: Cholinesterase Inhibitors and NMDA Receptor Antagonists

Cognitive enhancers, also known as "smart drugs," are substances used to enhance memory, mental alertness, and concentration. These can be natural or synthetic and improve cognition in conditions like Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative diseases. Some common examples include caffeine, amphetamines, methylphenidate, modafinil, arecoline, donepezil, vortioxetine, and piracetam. These enhancers work on the principle of synaptic plasticity and altered circuit function.

Biological Causes of Schizophrenia

Biological Causes of Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia, a severe psychiatric disorder, arises from a complex interplay of biological factors, including genetic predisposition, structural brain abnormalities, neurotransmitter dysregulation, and developmental irregularities. These factors collectively contribute to the onset and progression of the disorder, which typically manifests in late adolescence or early adulthood.
Genetic Factors in Schizophrenia
The genetic basis of schizophrenia is strongly supported by family and twin...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Neuronal surface P antigen (NSPA) as a novel regulator of energy homeostasis and adipose tissue metabolism.

Molecular medicine (Cambridge, Mass.)·2026

Same author

Childhood socioemotional development and growth mindset preceding schizophrenia: case-control study using prospectively collected data.

BJPsych open·2026

Same author

HERPUD1 mediates palmitic acid-induced UPR sustaining TNBC aggressiveness and is destabilized by CK2 pharmacological inhibition.

Cell death & disease·2025

Same author

Peripheral BDNF Levels in Individuals at Ultra-High Risk for Psychosis: A Systematic Review.

Brain sciences·2025

Same author

Anti-P antibodies that impair memory perturb hippocampal glutamatergic receptor trafficking, synapse structure and microglia.

Molecular medicine (Cambridge, Mass.)·2025

Same author

Interpretable machine learning model for characterizing magnetic susceptibility-based biomarkers in first episode psychosis.

Computer methods and programs in biomedicine·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 23, 2025

Standardized Data Acquisition for Neuromelanin-Sensitive Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Substantia Nigra

Standardized Data Acquisition for Neuromelanin-Sensitive Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Substantia Nigra

Published on: September 8, 2021

BDNF and Cognitive Function in Chilean Schizophrenic Patients.

Rodrigo R Nieto^1,2,3,4, Hernán Silva^1,2, Alejandra Armijo⁵

¹Clínica Psiquiátrica Universitaria, Hospital Clínico de la Universidad de Chile, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8380453, Chile.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

|July 14, 2023

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels correlate with cognitive function in schizophrenia patients with cognitive deficits. This suggests BDNF plays a role in cognitive impairment in schizophrenia.

Keywords:

BDNF plasma levels Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)brain-derived neurotrophic factor cognition cognition biomarker cognitive impairment neurotrophins schizophrenia

More Related Videos

Brain Morphology of Cannabis Users With or Without Psychosis: A Pilot MRI Study

Brain Morphology of Cannabis Users With or Without Psychosis: A Pilot MRI Study

Published on: August 18, 2020

Evaluation of the Cognitive Performance of Hypertensive Patients with Silent Cerebrovascular Lesions

Evaluation of the Cognitive Performance of Hypertensive Patients with Silent Cerebrovascular Lesions

Published on: April 23, 2021

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 23, 2025

Standardized Data Acquisition for Neuromelanin-Sensitive Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Substantia Nigra

Standardized Data Acquisition for Neuromelanin-Sensitive Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Substantia Nigra

Published on: September 8, 2021

Brain Morphology of Cannabis Users With or Without Psychosis: A Pilot MRI Study

Brain Morphology of Cannabis Users With or Without Psychosis: A Pilot MRI Study

Published on: August 18, 2020

Evaluation of the Cognitive Performance of Hypertensive Patients with Silent Cerebrovascular Lesions

Evaluation of the Cognitive Performance of Hypertensive Patients with Silent Cerebrovascular Lesions

Published on: April 23, 2021

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Psychiatry
Molecular Biology

Background:

Cognitive symptoms are significant in schizophrenia, but vary among patients.
The molecular basis for differing cognitive function in schizophrenia is not well understood.
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is implicated in neuronal plasticity and cognitive processes.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the relationship between plasma BDNF levels and cognitive functioning in schizophrenia patients.
To explore whether BDNF's role in cognition differs between schizophrenic patients with and without cognitive deficits.

Main Methods:

Schizophrenia patients were categorized into subgroups based on Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores: normal cognition (≥26) and cognitive deficit (≤25).
Plasma BDNF levels were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs).
Statistical analyses included Spearman's Rho and Kruskal-Wallis tests.

Main Results:

A significant positive correlation was found between plasma BDNF levels and MoCA scores in schizophrenic patients with cognitive deficits (n=29, p=0.04).
No significant correlation between plasma BDNF and MoCA scores was observed in patients with normal cognition (n=11) or the total patient group (n=40).

Conclusions:

BDNF plays a significant role in cognitive functioning for schizophrenia patients experiencing cognitive deficits.
BDNF may not be as critical for cognitive function in schizophrenia patients with normal cognitive status.
These findings contribute to understanding the molecular underpinnings of cognitive deficits in schizophrenia.