Neuroplasticity and Cognitive Training in Schizophrenia

Purpose of ReviewThis review attempts to link cognitive training with neuroplasticity in schizophrenia evaluating the research evidences.Recent FindingsSchizophrenia is a severe mental disorder that often follows a chronic course and affects multiple domains of functioning. Cognitive deficits in schizophrenia are one of the commonest causes of the functional impairments. Alterations in neuroplasticity in schizophrenia may be directly linked to the cognitive deficits in schizophrenia. The cognitive deficits in schizophrenia can be improved with specific cognitive remediation techniques. Over the past few decades, much emphasis has been given in targeting the cognitive deficits to improve the functional outcomes in schizophrenia.SummaryCognitive remediation techniques have been effective in improving various domains of cognition as well as having a neuroplastic effect. The neuroplastic effect of cognitive remediation has been further augmented after addition of certain augmenting procedures (example: transcranial direct current stimulation) in schizophrenia as found in recent researches.