Attractor cortical neurodynamics, schizophrenia, and depression

Abstract The local recurrent collateral connections between cortical neurons provide a basis for attractor neural networks for memory, attention, decision-making, and thereby for many aspects of human behavior. In schizophrenia, a reduction of the firing rates of cortical neurons, caused for example...

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Main Author: Edmund T. Rolls
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Publishing Group 2021-04-01
Series:Translational Psychiatry
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-021-01333-7
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author Edmund T. Rolls
author_facet Edmund T. Rolls
author_sort Edmund T. Rolls
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description Abstract The local recurrent collateral connections between cortical neurons provide a basis for attractor neural networks for memory, attention, decision-making, and thereby for many aspects of human behavior. In schizophrenia, a reduction of the firing rates of cortical neurons, caused for example by reduced NMDA receptor function or reduced spines on neurons, can lead to instability of the high firing rate attractor states that normally implement short-term memory and attention in the prefrontal cortex, contributing to the cognitive symptoms. Reduced NMDA receptor function in the orbitofrontal cortex by reducing firing rates may produce negative symptoms, by reducing reward, motivation, and emotion. Reduced functional connectivity between some brain regions increases the temporal variability of the functional connectivity, contributing to the reduced stability and more loosely associative thoughts. Further, the forward projections have decreased functional connectivity relative to the back projections in schizophrenia, and this may reduce the effects of external bottom-up inputs from the world relative to internal top-down thought processes. Reduced cortical inhibition, caused by a reduction of GABA neurotransmission, can lead to instability of the spontaneous firing states of cortical networks, leading to a noise-induced jump to a high firing rate attractor state even in the absence of external inputs, contributing to the positive symptoms of schizophrenia. In depression, the lateral orbitofrontal cortex non-reward attractor network system is over-connected and has increased sensitivity to non-reward, providing a new approach to understanding depression. This is complemented by under-sensitivity and under-connectedness of the medial orbitofrontal cortex reward system in depression.
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spelling doaj.art-5f4f1edc6ef8406ab89f51fece58769a2022-12-21T19:47:08ZengNature Publishing GroupTranslational Psychiatry2158-31882021-04-0111111710.1038/s41398-021-01333-7Attractor cortical neurodynamics, schizophrenia, and depressionEdmund T. Rolls0Oxford Centre for Computational NeuroscienceAbstract The local recurrent collateral connections between cortical neurons provide a basis for attractor neural networks for memory, attention, decision-making, and thereby for many aspects of human behavior. In schizophrenia, a reduction of the firing rates of cortical neurons, caused for example by reduced NMDA receptor function or reduced spines on neurons, can lead to instability of the high firing rate attractor states that normally implement short-term memory and attention in the prefrontal cortex, contributing to the cognitive symptoms. Reduced NMDA receptor function in the orbitofrontal cortex by reducing firing rates may produce negative symptoms, by reducing reward, motivation, and emotion. Reduced functional connectivity between some brain regions increases the temporal variability of the functional connectivity, contributing to the reduced stability and more loosely associative thoughts. Further, the forward projections have decreased functional connectivity relative to the back projections in schizophrenia, and this may reduce the effects of external bottom-up inputs from the world relative to internal top-down thought processes. Reduced cortical inhibition, caused by a reduction of GABA neurotransmission, can lead to instability of the spontaneous firing states of cortical networks, leading to a noise-induced jump to a high firing rate attractor state even in the absence of external inputs, contributing to the positive symptoms of schizophrenia. In depression, the lateral orbitofrontal cortex non-reward attractor network system is over-connected and has increased sensitivity to non-reward, providing a new approach to understanding depression. This is complemented by under-sensitivity and under-connectedness of the medial orbitofrontal cortex reward system in depression.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-021-01333-7
spellingShingle Edmund T. Rolls
Attractor cortical neurodynamics, schizophrenia, and depression
Translational Psychiatry
title Attractor cortical neurodynamics, schizophrenia, and depression
title_full Attractor cortical neurodynamics, schizophrenia, and depression
title_fullStr Attractor cortical neurodynamics, schizophrenia, and depression
title_full_unstemmed Attractor cortical neurodynamics, schizophrenia, and depression
title_short Attractor cortical neurodynamics, schizophrenia, and depression
title_sort attractor cortical neurodynamics schizophrenia and depression
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-021-01333-7
work_keys_str_mv AT edmundtrolls attractorcorticalneurodynamicsschizophreniaanddepression