Welcome to the 22nd WCP Congress Program Scheduling

We propose to discuss novel approaches to imaging that uncover both neuropathological mechanims underlying schizophrenia, and point to paths towards more effective treatment. Furthermore, we will discuss how the neurobiological signatures of psychosis uncovered in the course of these investigations can serve as biomarkers of specific clinical features. Dr. Niznikiewicz will discuss how the use of real-time fMRI based neurofeedback (rt-fMRI-NFB) in schizophrenia patients with auditory hallucinations (AH) helped delineate a cortical nework associated with AH, and how clinically relavant changes in this network, post-NFB, led to AH reductions. The results suggest the involvement of a network of brain regions in AH, and that targetting one brain region belonging to this network resulted in network-wide changes. Dr. Brady will discuss cortical-subcortical sources of AH and the use of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) as a novel way to interrogate the neural basis of dysconnectivity in schizophrenia. The approach involved the identification of dys-connectivity of the cerebellar-thalamo-cortical network, followed by the TMS stimulation (TMS) directed at the cerebellum to ameliorate it, which again resulted in AH reductions. Dr. Borgwardt will discuss thalamo-cortical dysconnectivity and its clinical relevance in psychotic states. He will present recent findings on thalamocortical dysconnectivity, both in schizophrenia and in psychedelic states, suggesting that psychedelic and psychotic states share clinically and functionally relevant dysconnectivity patterns. Implications of these three different approaches to the models of psychosis neuropathology, and for identifying biomarkers of specific clinical features, will be discussed.