Cited by 164Neural dynamics and brain functionSchizophrenia research and treatmentNeuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research

A Dynamical Systems Hypothesis of Schizophrenia

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Loh, Marco, Rolls, Edmund T, Deco, Gustavo·2007·PLoS Computational Biology

Abstract

We propose a top-down approach to the symptoms of schizophrenia based on a statistical dynamical framework. We show that a reduced depth in the basins of attraction of cortical attractor states destabilizes the activity at the network level due to the constant statistical fluctuations caused by the stochastic spiking of neurons. In integrate-and-fire network simulations, a decrease in the NMDA receptor conductances, which reduces the depth of the attractor basins, decreases the stability of short-term memory states and increases distractibility. The cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia such as distractibility, working memory deficits, or poor attention could be caused by this instability of attractor states in prefrontal cortical networks. Lower firing rates are also produced, and in the orbitofrontal and anterior cingulate cortex could account for the negative symptoms, including a reduction of emotions. Decreasing the GABA as well as the NMDA conductances produces not only switches between the attractor states, but also jumps from spontaneous activity into one of the attractors. We relate this to the positive symptoms of schizophrenia, including delusions, paranoia, and hallucinations, which may arise because the basins of attraction are shallow and there is instability in temporal lobe semantic memory networks, leading thoughts to move too freely round the attractor energy landscape.

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  1. [1]1. Rolls ET. Emotion explained. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2005. 606
  2. [66]66. Kaneko K. On the strength of attractors in a high-dimensional system. Physica D. 1998;124:322–344.
  3. [67]67. Ashwin P, Buesc J, Stewart I. Bubbling of attractors and synchronization of chaotic attractors. Phys Lett A. 1994;193:126–139.
  4. [80]80. Abeles M. Corticonics. New York: Cambridge University Press; 1991. 280
  5. [81]81. Braitenberg V, Schütz A. Anatomy of the cortex. Berlin: Springer Verlag; 1991. 249

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Authors
Loh, M., Rolls, E. T., & Deco, G.
Affiliations
  • Universitat Pompeu Fabra (ES)
  • University of Oxford (GB)
  • Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ES)
Corresponding author
Rolls, Edmund T
Venue
PLoS Computational Biology
Published
2007-11-09
Volume
3
Issue
11
Pages
e228
ISSN
  • 1553-734X (ISSN-L)
  • 1553-7358
OpenAlex
W2113693127
Cited by
164
References
84
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 11
FWCI
5.68
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • PLoS Computational Biology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Repositori digital de la UPF (Universitat Pompeu Fabra) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural dynamics and brain function
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Schizophrenia research and treatment
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
Keywords
schizophrenia, dynamical systems, basins of attraction, short-term memory, distractibility, working memory deficits, negative symptoms, positive symptoms, orbitofrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, statistical fluctuations, network stability
MeSH terms
Action Potentials, Animals, Brain, Computer Simulation, Humans, Models, Neurological, Nerve Net, Synaptic Transmission, Schizophrenia, Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate, Receptors, GABA

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