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A Neurophysiological Theory of Schizophrenia^*

Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Edinburgh

^* Lecture given at the Department of Psychiatry, Upstate Medical Centre, State. University of New York, Syracuse, N.Y., by kind invitation of Professor Marc H. Hollender.

ABSTRACT

It is suggested that the trema and early apophanous stage of acute schizophrenia can be explained as due to overactivity of the reticular system producing an undue diversion and disruption of the central process by the sensory input. Internal apophany and catatonic symptoms are explained as due to disruption of the central process with the formation of short-lived parallel central processes. Chronic schizophrenic process clinical pictures are considered to be due to a permanent parallel process which is dependent on a cortical reticular rever beratory system, while defect states without active symptoms are regarded as due to a reorganization of cell assemblies produced by the acute process. Pharmacological and electroencephalographic evidence in support of this theory is discussed. Possible causes of overactivity of the reticular system are briefly outlined.