October 5th, 2024

Scientists Identify Brain Signal Disruptions Behind Voices in Schizophrenia

A study from Shanghai Jiao Tong University found brain signal disruptions in schizophrenia patients with auditory hallucinations, indicating misinterpretations of neural activity that complicate distinguishing internal thoughts from external sounds.

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Scientists Identify Brain Signal Disruptions Behind Voices in Schizophrenia

A recent study has identified specific brain signal disruptions that contribute to auditory verbal hallucinations in individuals with schizophrenia. Researchers from Shanghai Jiao Tong University analyzed brain wave data from 40 schizophrenia patients—20 who experienced hallucinations and 20 who did not. They found that those who heard voices exhibited a breakdown in the brain's ability to prepare for specific sounds, alongside an enhancement in internal noise filtering. This combination leads to confusion between self-generated sounds and external stimuli. The study highlighted that both groups of schizophrenia patients showed reduced activity in the brain's predictive mechanisms, known as corollary discharge, which typically helps distinguish self-produced sounds from external ones. However, only those experiencing hallucinations displayed a hyperactive efference copy, which is the motor signal that instructs speech. This hyperactivity results in increased internal auditory noise, making it difficult for these individuals to differentiate between their thoughts and external voices. The findings suggest that auditory hallucinations stem from misinterpretations of neural activity due to impaired functional connections between motor and auditory systems. This research could pave the way for improved treatments for auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia.

- Researchers identified brain signal disruptions linked to auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia.

- The study involved 40 patients, comparing those with and without hallucinations.

- A breakdown in predictive brain functions and enhanced internal noise was observed in patients hearing voices.

- The findings suggest a misinterpretation of neural activity contributes to the difficulty in distinguishing internal thoughts from external sounds.

- This research may lead to better treatment options for individuals experiencing auditory hallucinations.

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By @xtrapol8 - 5 months
The voices are quite real and we are not alone in our own minds.

I know, it’s like I’m telling you vampires and werewolves are real. And I don’t doubt some people have jumbled mixed signals and chemical imbalances which are confusing.

The voices however are real and we are not alone in our own minds.