Brain Defect Implicated In Early Schizophrenia

[steven johnson]

New PET scan evidence from the hippocampus of patients with prodromal schizophrenic symptoms suggest significant differences from the controls -- specifically, unusually high activity in a region of the hippocampus, known as the CA1 subfield. This is thought to potentially be able to screen high risk individuals for potential early interventions.

While the 'prodromal group' symptoms could be looked at as maladaptive, there is evidence that first-degree relatives of schizophrenics have increased abilities in mathematics and art. John Nash and Albert Einstein both had schizophrenics in their families and Nash famously developed schizophrenia. The importance of the hippocampus in spatial memory has been well established and this probably subserves the enhanced abilities of people with these genetic tendencies. Specifically, people with hippocampal lesions have trouble imagining new experiences and creating vivid mental imagery. I guess schizophrenic genetics is a 'good news, bad news' kind of gift.

Spatial memory, recognition memory, and the hippocampus

Psychosis and academic performance

Artistic tendencies linked to 'schizophrenia gene'

Patients with hippocampal amnesia lack imagination

To meet the criteria for a prodromal group, subjects need to present with what clinicians call "subthreshold" psychotic symptoms. "These involve illusions (hearing one's name in the wind) rather than hallucinations (hearing voices) or overvalued unusual ideas that lack the conviction of clear delusions, such as feeling suspicious of others but without a sense of being singled out or persecuted," ...

Of a typical prodromal cohort, approximately 35 percent will go on to develop a full-blown psychotic disorder, usually schizophrenia, at 2.5 years...

In the study, the researchers scanned the brains of 18 high-risk individuals with "prodromal" symptoms, and followed them for two years. Of those individuals who went on to develop first-episode psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia, 70 percent had unusually high activity in this region of the hippocampus, known as the CA1 subfield.

Activity in this specific region of the hippocampus may help predict the onset of the disease, offering opportunities for earlier diagnosis and for the development of drugs for schizophrenia prevention.

Brain Defect Implicated In Early Schizophrenia

[provis99]

1. dandy! Let's scan bush and cheney.

[Warpy]

2. Schizophrenia and sociopathy are different

and no one in the Bush family has ever displayed any particularly useful talent, only ruthlessness.

[LeftishBrit]

7. They don't have schizophrenia or any mental illness...

They appear to be psychopaths, which is not related to creativity, and for which there is no effective treatment.

[elocs]

3. Thank you from someone with a loved one who is afflicted with schizophrenia,

rather than just trying to be clever.

[Chemisse]

4. Hmm, "These involve illusions (hearing one's name in the wind)

I hear random words (not my name specifically) in background noise. I always figured that was normal.

Oh well, I am way too old to develop schizophrenia, so no worries.

[steven johnson]

5. I always thought it was normal, too, until I asked one of my friends today

He said he didn't have that illusion. I can also hear melodies in the wind if I let my imagination go.

I have a first degree relative with schizophrenia.

[LeftishBrit]

6. Very interesting...

There has been for some time been evidence of a relationship between creativity and a genetic tendency to mental illness, but only now are people able to start looking at some of the possible genes involved.

People interested in the neuroscience of creativity, psychiatric illness, and how these might relate to each other, might be interested in Nancy Andreasen's book 'The Creating Brain', 2005.

Also the work of Gordon Claridge and his colleagues and students; e.g. the following recent paper:

Author(s): Claridge, G (Claridge, Gordon); Blakey, S (Blakey, Sarah)
Title: Schizotypy and affective temperament: Relationships with divergent thinking and creativity styles
Source: PERSONALITY AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES, 46 (8): 820-826 JUN 2009
Abstract: Schizotypy and affective temperament have both been linked to creativity using measures such as divergent thinking (DT) but not in terms of creativity styles. The relationship between schizotypy and affective temperament has also not been examined directly in a creativity paradigm. Seventy-eight (44 female, 34 male) university students completed two DT tasks and measures of schizotypy. affective temperament, and creativity styles. Positive schizotypy was correlated with creativity styles, and affective temperament was correlated with both creativity styles and DT scores. Furthermore, schizotypy and affective temperament differentially predicted DT scores and creativity styles. Finally. the relationship between schizotypy and affective temperament gave evidence towards a unitary psychosis theory. Results are discussed in terms of current theories about psychosis and psychoticism and their association to creativity. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
ISSN: 0191-8869
DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2009.01.015