The Neurobiology of Cognition in Schizophrenia

Cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia differs from cognitive dysfunction inneurodegenerative illnesses because it is associated with neuronal dysfunctionand not neurodegeneration. Pharmacologically, potential targets for developingtreatments may differ from cognition in dementing disorders. Several putativemolecular targets for treating cognition in schizophrenia show promise, such astreatments that act on the D₁ receptor of the dopamine system; the5HT_1A, 5HT_2A,and 5HT₆, receptors of theserotonin system; and ampakines, Glycine/D-cycloserine, D-serine, and mGluR 2/3agonists of the glutamatergic system. Other receptors associated withimprovement in cognition include nicotinic and muscarinic receptors, and theαlpha₂subunit receptor of the brain GABA system.  Domain treatment ofschizophrenia is a new method of treating schizophrenia that involves treating asingle domain of dysfunction at a time.

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