Schizophrenia, which affects up to 1% of the population, is a neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by multiple symptoms.
University of GenevaJul 2 2024 One of the most common, and for which there is no treatment, is apathy and lack of motivation. By comparing neural activation between a group of patients and a control group during a reward-based game, a team from the University of Geneva and the University Hospitals of Geneva , in collaboration with researchers from Charité Berlin, has deciphered the neural bases of this disorder.
What occurs in the brain, particularly in the neural reward system, the seat of motivation and behavioural response? Using MRI, scientists aimed to ascertain whether individuals with schizophrenia exhibit distinct neural responses compared to those without a mental disorder, and whether these responses correlate with clinical observations.
'To stimulate the reward networks, the game allows you to win money - up to around CHF 40. At the start of each session, a circle appears indicating the possible reward: an empty circle , a circle with a bar , or a circle with 2 bars . Then three other circles appear. The one on the right or the one on the left differs from the other two; players must press the corresponding button as quickly as possible.
Hypoactivation or saturation During the first session, individuals with schizophrenia exhibited lower activation levels compared to the ''controls'', particularly when the reward was low, as if their brains were struggling to activate. On the other hand, during the second session, many of them saw their brain activity increase considerably, even beyond the control group who maintained the same level of activation.
Bases Brain Brain Stimulation Medicine Psychiatry Psychotherapy Research
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