Abstract
Schizophrenia is a complex epigenetic puzzle, the antecedents of which are presumed to lie in neurodevelopmental dysmaturation. This dysmaturation has an impact on children and adolescents at genetic risk for schizophrenia. In this framework, normative mechanisms of brain development that are highly dynamic in adolescence are likely to be disrupted in the at-risk adolescent brain. It is likely that what is affected is the integrity of brain networks that sub-serve fundamental domains of function such as sustained attention. Notably, expansion in proficiency in sustained attention that is characteristic of typical development is likely to be compromised in adolescents at risk for schizophrenia. This confluence of at-risk adolescents and neuro-behavioral domains of inquiry is discussed. We outline the evidence for developmental antecedents of schizophrenia, and their bases in systems and molecular mechanisms in the brain. Then we juxtapose these results against neuro-behavioral evidence of attention deficits in high-risk populations, and fMRI evidence of dysfunctional responses in critical brain regions. We end by advocating the application of systems-based approaches toward understanding the progression of network dysfunction in the adolescent risk-state.
Keywords: Sustained attention, schizophrenia, risk, Brain networks.
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry
Title:Adolescent Risk Pathways Toward Schizophrenia: Sustained Attention and the Brain
Volume: 12 Issue: 21
Author(s): V.A. Diwadkar
Affiliation:
Keywords: Sustained attention, schizophrenia, risk, Brain networks.
Abstract: Schizophrenia is a complex epigenetic puzzle, the antecedents of which are presumed to lie in neurodevelopmental dysmaturation. This dysmaturation has an impact on children and adolescents at genetic risk for schizophrenia. In this framework, normative mechanisms of brain development that are highly dynamic in adolescence are likely to be disrupted in the at-risk adolescent brain. It is likely that what is affected is the integrity of brain networks that sub-serve fundamental domains of function such as sustained attention. Notably, expansion in proficiency in sustained attention that is characteristic of typical development is likely to be compromised in adolescents at risk for schizophrenia. This confluence of at-risk adolescents and neuro-behavioral domains of inquiry is discussed. We outline the evidence for developmental antecedents of schizophrenia, and their bases in systems and molecular mechanisms in the brain. Then we juxtapose these results against neuro-behavioral evidence of attention deficits in high-risk populations, and fMRI evidence of dysfunctional responses in critical brain regions. We end by advocating the application of systems-based approaches toward understanding the progression of network dysfunction in the adolescent risk-state.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Diwadkar V.A., Adolescent Risk Pathways Toward Schizophrenia: Sustained Attention and the Brain, Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry 2012; 12 (21) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1568026611212210006
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1568026611212210006 |
Print ISSN 1568-0266 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4294 |
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Combination Therapy for Multi-Target Manipulation of Secondary Brain Injury Mechanisms
Current Neuropharmacology BK Channel Modulators: A Comprehensive Overview
Current Medicinal Chemistry Diagnostic Cardiac Catheterization in the Pediatric Population
Current Cardiology Reviews Principles and Applications of Diffuse Optical Imaging for the Brain
Current Medical Imaging The Etiology of Hypertension in the Metabolic Syndrome Part Two: The Gene-Environment Interaction
Current Vascular Pharmacology Cognitive Stimulation: The Evidence Base for its Application in Neurodegenerative Disease
Current Alzheimer Research Involvement of Cytosolic Phospholipase A2, Calcium Independent Phospholipase A2 and Plasmalogen Selective Phospholipase A2 in Neurodegenerative and Neuropsychiatric Conditions
Current Medicinal Chemistry Emotion, Decision-Making and Substance Dependence: A Somatic-Marker Model of Addiction
Current Neuropharmacology Alport Syndrome: A Comprehensive Review on Genetics, Pathophysiology, Histology, Clinical and Therapeutic Perspectives
Current Medicinal Chemistry Oxidative Stress in the Cochlea: An Update
Current Medicinal Chemistry Lipid Nanocarriers and Molecular Targets for Malaria Chemotherapy
Current Drug Targets Visual Event-Related Potentials in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer’s Disease: A Literature Review
Current Alzheimer Research Advances in Drug Discovery and Development for Pediatric Tuberculosis
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Modelling Anxiety in Humans for Drug Development
Current Neuropharmacology FMRI of the Emotions: Towards an Improved Understanding of Amygdala Function
Current Medical Imaging Genes Involved in Hereditary Hearing Impairment
Current Genomics Oxidative Stress and Cancer: The Role of Nrf2
Current Cancer Drug Targets Targeted Drug Delivery and Imaging Using Mobile Milli/Microrobots: A Promising Future Towards Theranostic Pharmaceutical Design
Current Pharmaceutical Design Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 7: From Synaptic Function to Therapeutic Implications
Current Neuropharmacology Aging as an Evolvability-Increasing Program Which can be Switched Off by Organism to Mobilize Additional Resources for Survival
Current Aging Science