Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is associated with severe behavioural and cognitive deficits, and extensive changes in brain structure and function. We aim to provide new insights into the neurobiology of schizophrenia by combining imaging studies in humans with a range of other models.

Two of the most consistent neuropathological findings are alterations in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus and adjacent medial temporal lobe structures, and elevated presynaptic dopamine function in the striatum. The aim of this programme is to provide new insights into the neurobiology of schizophrenia by combining imaging studies in humans with mechanistic studies in mouse models.

Our key questions:

• How do changes in specific brain regions (prefrontal cortex, hippocampus and medial temporal lobe structures) underlie schizophrenia?
• How do changes in brain structure and function trigger schizophrenia?
• Which models are most effective for studying brain alterations seen in schizophrenia? How can we improve them?
• How do we build a coherent picture of how functional circuits in the brain come together during development to control behaviour?

Schizophrenia is a key research theme of the MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, which brings together world-leading researchers across King's College London.

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