Brain Circuit linked to Schizophrenia

    Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers found a potential cause for a common symptom that individuals with schizophrenia experience. People with schizophrenia exhibit a sense of lost reality often not knowing the difference between what is reality and what is fake. These researches proposed a possible cause for these experiences. A mutation in a gene impairs a function in the brain that updates thoughts based off of new information. A person with schizophrenia can take medication to target the mutation of the gene called grin2a to help with the brain circuit impairments. Researchers found that the most affected region of the brain was the mediodorsal thalamus. This region is responsible for decision making and control. Schizophrenia has a strong genetic component; the chances of having schizophrenia increase 1%-10% if a parent or sibling are affected. Many gene variants that are affected are in non-coding regions making it difficult for researchers to study. 

Figure 1. Graphic of the Symptoms of Schizophrenia

    This research provides evidence that can lead to medications to help combat this cognitive impairment. Schizophrenia is an interesting disorder because of the large genetic component. Scientists are discovering the reasoning behind these abnormal behaviors and thoughts which provide more insight on why affected individuals have these different beliefs. Hopefully with this new information, scientists find a way to correct the brain circuit that is responsible for updating the brain to believe new information so people with schizophrenia no longer hallucinate. 

Link: 

https://news.mit.edu/2026/brain-circuit-incorporates-new-information-may-be-linked-schizophrenia-0318

Additional link discussing schizophrenic hallucinations:

https://goodhealthpsych.com/blog/types-of-hallucinations-in-schizophrenia/