Hyperconnectivity In A Brain Circuit May Predict Psychosis

Scientists have discovered a pattern in the way a brain circuit works that may help predict the onset of psychosis in a study funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). High levels of chatter, or “hyperconnectivity,” in a circuit involving the cerebellum, thalamus, and cortex emerged as a potential “neural signature” in a functional magnetic resonance imaging study. The degree of hyperconnectivity within this circuit predicted the length of time it took for an individual to convert from a state of risk to full psychosis – hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thought and behavior. The researchers also found this same pattern of hyperactivity in a separate group of individuals with schizophrenia.    View Study Here . . .