Sincronía neuronal y esquizofrenia: luces y sombras

Abstract

Background: Neuronal synchrony seems to be a central element in the unification of brain activity and the emergence of consciousness. It appears to be fundamental in the development of thought, attention, memory, motor actions and in the ability to perceive external and internal stimuli in a balanced and unified way. The dysfunction of these mechanisms could account for the disturbances that underlie schizophrenia. Objective: To provide an overview of the mechanisms underlying schizophrenia and give a critical vision about considering the alteration of neuronal synchrony as a core process in this disease. Methods: The results of several studies are summarized in the context of a literature review. Results: Several studies indicate that alterations in the development of neural networks may have a fundamental role in schizophrenia, resulting in neuronal synchrony dysfunctions. These dysfunctions seem to determine the presence of hypoconnected, but also of hyperconnected regions, resulting in negative and positive symptoms, respectively. Conclusion: Neuronal synchrony seems to play a crucial role in information processing, brain integration and unified perception of reality. The alteration of neuronal synchrony could be a central determinant in the development of this disease. Understanding these mechanisms could provide valuable knowledge for improving our predictive, diagnostic and therapeutic capacities in relation to schizophrenia.