Roughly a percent of the population, which is about 3.2 million people in the United States are affected by schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is classified as a mental disorder that involves a breakdown between emotion, thought, and behavior. It can be characterized by disorganized behavior or speech, difficulty with concentration, and the individual can display thoughts that are out of touch with the real world. Some symptoms of schizophrenia include fatigue, paranoia, hallucinations, and memory loss. As of right now, schizophrenia cannot be cured and may be a lifelong condition. However, some treatments can be set in place to help with the mental disorder. These treatments include psychotherapy and medications. Studies done by Dr. Molly Erickson and The Zuckerman Institute of Columbia University provided research to unravel the underlying cause to schizophrenia. Both came across different, yet unique mechanisms related to schizophrenia and how cognitive functions, specifically memory impairment, are affected.
Dr. Molly Erickson, conducted a research study to investigate the underlying cause for memory impairment. She provided evidence that memory impairment is caused by aspects of one’s working memory, specifically the process of encoding and consolidation. Dr. Erickson and her research team looked at alpha-desynchronization and beta-desynchronization behaviors through cognitive functions in one’s working memory. In her study, she conducted a task in which one to seven squares were flashed on a screen for 200m/s. This was then followed by a delay of 800m/s. Then, there were squares that followed and individuals had to decide whether the pattern was alike or different to the image given prior. She found that schizophrenic individuals portrayed a decrease in the indicator while healthy individuals portrayed an alpha-desynchronization indicator from the bilateral occipital lobe. Her research concluded that individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia portrayed a memory impairment in the process of encoding and consolidation.
The Zuckerman Institute of Columbia University acknowledged that disruptions in the internal GPS, found in the brain, causes severe memory deficits in schizophrenia. Researchers do not understand and know what occurs in the brain of patients with schizophrenia. In schizophrenic patients, memory impairment is commonly found. Researchers in this study were interested in investigating episodic memory in the CA1 (hippocampal circuit). Episodic memory is critical for one’s functioning in their everyday life and learning. It helps in recalling events or a specific moment in the past. They experimented on mice which were broken up into two groups. Group one was genetically modified and mimicked schizophrenia, while group two had normal and healthy mice. Researchers experimented in the CA1 activity, which is where hundreds of cells take place and they watched when the animal recalled memories. In order to test how the animals were able to navigate in a new environment, researchers put the two different groups of mice on a treadmill. This was to see if they could recall navigating through an environment that was familiar to them and how quickly they would be able to adapt to an environment that was new to them. They were exposed to different sights, smells, and sounds. The results showed that mice that mimicked schizophrenia portrayed different behaviors and cell activity than those that were normal and healthy. Even though both groups were able to navigate in a new environment the mice with schizophrenia had a difficult time recalling environments that were familiar to them. The brain cells of the schizophrenic mice lacked adaptability. By finding this, it could help in a target for a new drug and reflected a general idea of memory deficits in those with schizophrenia. The Zuckerman Institute at Columbia University successfully proved that the CA1 is involved in memory deficits in individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia.
In conclusion, schizophrenia continues to be a disorder that is constantly being researched and studied. The different symptoms associated with this disorder makes it extremely difficult to treat. Many researchers are interested in finding a cure to treat schizophrenia since so many individuals are affected by this disorder. Studies done by Dr. Erickson and The Zuckerman Institute of Columbia University are helping by building an understanding for this disorder that still remains a mystery. Their results might help in finding solutions to other conditions that are memory related, such as dementia. Many people who are diagnosed with schizophrenia are often judged and misunderstood. However, with research studies being done, it might aid in reducing the environment that schizophrenics are surrounded in. Despite the differences in both studies, they aim to help those who are suffering and diagnosed with schizophrenia by providing insight into the disorder and by improving one’s life.
Erickson, M. A., Albrecht, M. A., Robinson, B., Luck, S. J., & Gold, J. M. (2017). Impaired
Suppression of Delay-Period Alpha and Beta Is Associated With Impaired Working Memory in Schizophrenia. Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, 2(3), 272-279. doi:10.1016/j.bpsc.2016.09.003
The Zuckerman Institute at Columbia University. (2017, September 4). Schizophrenia, memory
deficits: Solving the mystery behind a most stubborn symptom: Biological origins of a core symptom of schizophrenia, new study in mice reveals. ScienceDaily. Retrieved February 27, 2020 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/09/170904120423.htm
URL Article:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/09/170904120423.htm
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