Studying chemical and electrical neuronal dynamics as a platform for understanding schizophrenia

Intrinsic structural and functional relationships within brain networks are mutually dependent. The formation of physical and chemical connectivity in the brain is to some extent dependent on an evolutionary basis. As such, genetic contributions may provide the first context within which the anatomico-chemical system of the brain is constructed. There is then an electrical and neural dynamical set of patterns that are also intrinsic within the system including spiking, oscillations and short and long spatial communication. Subsequent environmentally induced perturbations including actions and behavior have the ability to fundamentally modify these neurochemical and electrical properties resulting in observable output of the system such as action and even consciousness. Such input and output driven system is continuously modified during life. In case of disease, many perturbations from the genetic to environmental put the system at risk of dysfunction. These dysfunctions can be seen anatomically, chemically and in the electrical properties of many brain areas. In this review, we use the disease schizophrenia as an example to highlight such structural and functional interdependencies. We also focus on the attempts of computational methodologies to provide a unified approach to such complex disorders. The clinical features of schizophrenia will be reviewed, followed by the structural, chemical and electrophysiological aspects. The concept of synchrony will then be reviewed as a new platform on which to study diseases such as schizophrenia.