Estimating the activities in the three neurotransmission systems for clarifying the mechanisms of cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K03490
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 10040:Experimental psychology-related
• Research Institution: National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry
• Principal Investigator: Shirama Aya 国立研究開発法人国立精神・神経医療研究センター, 精神保健研究所 児童・予防精神医学研究部, 室長 (50738127)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 住吉 太幹 国立研究開発法人国立精神・神経医療研究センター, 精神保健研究所 児童・予防精神医学研究部, 部長 (80286062)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 統合失調症 / 認知機能障害 / 自律神経系

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The underlying mechanisms of cognitive dysfunction including impairments of verbal memory, attention, executive function, problem solving, and processing speed in schizophrenia are thought to be involved with different neurotransmission systems. In order to understand the cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia, the present study invented a new method for estimating activities in several neurotransmission systems non-invasively. We analyzed the complexity and symmetricity of the temporal behavior of pupil size in order to estimate the activities of the sympathetic/parasympathetic (NA/ACh) systems and the locus coeruleus. Also, we examined the efficacy of ERG (electroretinogram) for estimating the DA system activity. In addition, we measured pupil size during an inference task and found that prediction uncertainty mediated by the arousal system is not efficiently utilized in patients with schizophrenia.

Free Research Field

神経心理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

統合失調症では，記憶，注意，作業記憶，問題解決，処理速度などの広範な認知機能に障害が見られる。認知機能障害は患者の生活能力や機能的転帰に対して陽性症状や陰性症状と比べ強い影響力をもち，統合失調症の中心的特徴と考えられている。統合失調症における認知機能障害には複数の神経伝達系が複雑に関与しているのみられるが，従来の手法ではこれらを同時に評価することは難しかった。本研究では，アイトラッカーやERGといった非侵襲的な計測方法を用いて神経伝達系の活動を評価する手法を考案した。