Many psychiatric disorders, despite their specific characteristics, share deficits in the cognitive domain including executive functions, emotional control and memory. However, memory deficits have been in many cases undervalued compared with other characteristics. The expression of Immediate Early Genes (IEGs) such as, c-fos, Egr1 and arc are selectively and promptly upregulated in learning and memory among neuronal subpopulations in regions associated with these processes. Changes in expression in these genes have been observed in recognition, working and fear related memories across the brain. Despite the enormous amount of data supporting changes in their expression during learning and memory and the importance of those cognitive processes in psychiatric conditions, there are very few studies analyzing the direct implication of the IEGs in mental illnesses. In this review, we discuss the role of some of the most relevant IEGs in relation with memory processes affected in psychiatric conditions.

/pdf/immediate-early-genes-memory-and-psychiatric-disorders-focus-619b3jxdwf.pdf

Immediate Early Genes, Memory and Psychiatric Disorders: Focus on c-Fos, Egr1 and Arc.

Evidence that childhood adversities are risk factors for psychosis has accumulated rapidly Research into the mechanisms underlying these relationships has focused, productively, on psychological processes, including cognition, attachment and dissociation In 2001, the traumagenic neurodevelopmental model sought to integrate biological and psychological research by highlighting the similarities between the structural and functional abnormalities in the brains of abused children and adults diagnosed with ‘schizophrenia’ No review of relevant literature has subsequently been published The aim of this paper, therefore, is to summarize the literature on biological mechanisms underlying the relationship between childhood trauma and psychosis published since 2001 A comprehensive search for relevant papers was undertaken via Medline, PubMed and psycINFO In total, 125 papers were identified, with a range of methodologies, and provided both indirect support for and direct confirmation of the traumagenic neurodevelopmental model Integrating our growing understanding of the biological sequelae of early adversity with our knowledge of the psychological processes linking early adversity to psychosis is valuable both theoretically and clinically

/pdf/the-traumagenic-neurodevelopmental-model-of-psychosis-4etexc907k.pdf

The traumagenic neurodevelopmental model of psychosis revisited

Previous studies on schizophrenia have detected elevated cytokines in both brain and blood, suggesting neuroinflammation may contribute to the pathophysiology in some cases. We aimed to determine the extent to which elevated peripheral cytokine messenger RNA (mRNA) expression: (1) characterizes a subgroup of people with schizophrenia and (2) shows a relationship to cognition, brain volume and/or symptoms. Forty-three outpatients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and matched healthy controls were assessed for peripheral cytokine mRNAs (interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-18), intelligence quotient, memory and verbal fluency, symptom severity and cortical brain volumes integral to language (that is, Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas). IL-1β mRNA levels were 28% increased in schizophrenia compared with controls (t(82)=2.64, P<0.01). Using a two-step clustering procedure, we identified a subgroup of people displaying relatively elevated cytokine mRNA levels (17/43 people with schizophrenia and 9/42 controls). Individuals with schizophrenia in the elevated cytokine subgroup performed significantly worse than the low-cytokine subgroup on verbal fluency (F(1,40)=15.7, P<0.001). There was a 17% volume reduction of the left pars opercularis (POp) (Broca’s area) in patients with elevated cytokines compared with patients with lower cytokines (F(1,29)=9.41, P=0.005). Negative linear relationships between IL-1β mRNA levels and both verbal fluency and left POp volume were found in schizophrenia. This study is among the first to link blood biomarkers of inflammation with both cognitive deficits and brain volume reductions in people with schizophrenia, supporting that those with elevated cytokines represent a neurobiologically meaningful subgroup. These findings raise the possibility that targeted anti-inflammatory treatments may ameliorate cognitive and brain morphological abnormalities in some people with schizophrenia.

/pdf/elevated-peripheral-cytokines-characterize-a-subgroup-of-5bnjarn47e.pdf

Elevated peripheral cytokines characterize a subgroup of people with schizophrenia displaying poor verbal fluency and reduced Broca’s area volume

On the face of it, memory, imagination, and prediction seem to be distinct cognitive functions. However, metacognitive, cognitive, neuropsychological, and neuroimaging evidence is emerging that they are not, suggesting intimate links in their underlying processes. Here, we explore these empirical findings and the evolving theoretical frameworks that seek to explain how a common neural system supports our recollection of times past, imagination, and our attempts to predict the future.

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1073858413495091

Memory, Imagination, and Predicting the Future: A Common Brain Mechanism?

Neurocognition in first-episode schizophrenia: a meta-analytic review

Neurological soft signs (NSS) and cognitive impairment in chronic schizophrenia.

As established in a wealth of studies subtle motor and sensory neurological abnormalities or neurological soft signs (NSS) are frequently found in patients with schizophrenia at any stage of their illness. However, the potential impact of chronicity and age on NSS was scarcely investigated. Therefore, we assessed NSS in 90 patients with subchronic (n=22) or chronic (n=68) schizophrenia and in 60 healthy controls who were assigned to three age groups (18-29 years, 30-49 years, +50 years). NSS were measured on the Heidelberg Scale, psychopathological symptoms including apathy were rated on established instruments. As demonstrated by ANOVA, NSS scores in patients were significantly (p<0.05) increased relative to healthy controls. Significant age effects arose in all NSS subscores, with older subjects scoring well above the younger ones. These age effects were more pronounced in patients than controls, indicating that NSS in chronic schizophrenia exceed age-associated changes. Moreover, the NSS scores in patients were significantly associated with duration of illness, thought disturbance, positive symptoms and apathy. These results were confirmed after age/duration of illness and years of education were partialed out and via regression analyses. Our findings conform to the hypothesis that NSS are associated with chronicity of the disorder as indicated by the correlations of NSS with both, duration of illness and apathy. The correlations between NSS and positive symptoms/thought disturbance correspond to the fluctuation of positive symptoms during the course of the disorder. The significantly more pronounced age effects on NSS in patients may either point to ongoing cerebral changes or to a greater susceptibility of patients towards physiological age effects, which may be mediated among other factors by a lower cognitive reserve.

Neurological Soft Signs and Psychopathology in Chronic Schizophrenia: A Cross-Sectional Study in Three Age Groups.

Background: Neurological soft signs (NSS), i.e. subtle neurological abnormalities, have been frequently found in schizophrenia. Neuroimaging studies in schizophre

Association of cortical thickness and neurological soft signs in patients with chronic schizophrenia and healthy controls.

. Chronic schizophrenia involves neuropsychological deficits that primarily strike executive functions and episodic memory. Our study investigated these deficits throughout the lifespan in patients with chronic schizophrenia and in healthy controls. Important neuropsychological functions were tested in 94 patients and 66 healthy controls, who were assigned to three age groups. Compared with the healthy controls, patients performed significantly poorer on all tests applied. Significant age effects occurred on all tests except the digit span forward, with older subjects scoring well below the younger ones. With respect to cognitive flexibility, age effects were more pronounced in the patients. These findings underline the importance of cognitive deficits in chronic schizophrenia and indicate that diminished cognitive flexibility shows age-associated differences.

Cognitive Performance in Patients with Chronic Schizophrenia Across the Lifespan

Autobiographical memory deficits in older patients with chronic schizophrenia

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