15_3_18_ICS_anomalias
Analyzing physical abnormalities in the sense organs can aid in the diagnosis of mental disorders such as schizophrenia.
ICS researchers state in an impact scientific journal that this approach can open new lines for treatments.
Analyzing anatomical abnormalities of the sense organs can help in the diagnosis of complex mental disorders such as schizophrenia. This is proposed by researchers Francisco Güell and Javier Bernácer in a article published in Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, a high-impact scientific journal. The experts belong to the group Mind-Brain at Institute for Culture and Society (ICS) of the University of Navarra, funded by the "La Caixa" Foundation. Obra Social "La Caixa"..
"In schizophrenia there are perceptual abnormalities whose physical substrate has been sought in the Anatomy and brain function. We suggest a new approach looking for physical differences directly in the constitution of the sense organs instead of deficiencies in the processing of the signals encoded by them", explain Dr. Güell and Dr. Bernácer.
According to agreement with the experts of group 'Mind-brain', this perspective can be useful in diagnosis as a complement to neuroimaging techniques. It could also contribute to "understanding the etiology of the disease" and "open new avenues for treatment".
Vision abnormalities in schizophreniaSpecifically, they mention the case of vision in schizophrenia: "Some works have shown a association between this disorder and visual perception anomalies, as well as abnormal movements related to the eye". As an example, they mention several recent programs of study suggesting that these patients suffer from anatomical and functional abnormalities of the retina.
Finally, these ICS researchers stress that the association they propose is not deterministic: "Although certain morphological configurations may be related to a disease, this does not necessarily imply that a person is 'schizophrenic', or even that he or she is on the 'schizophrenic spectrum'. It points to a constitutional predisposition to suffer from the disease, open to various environmental factors."
The group 'Mind-brain' is one of the eight projects of research of Institute for Culture and Society, the research center in Humanities and social sciences of the University of Navarra.