In schizophrenic and affective symptoms of the schizoaffective disorder,
neural networks are described in the brain regions involved. In schizophrenic
symptoms, neural interactions are described in the ventral tegmental area, A10 cell
group, hippocampus, prefrontal cortex and hypothalamus. In the hippocampus, the
dopamine and serotonin dysfunction is considered. In depressive symptoms, neural
networks in the brainstem, including the “mood center” and the center for the circadian
rhythm, the hippocampus and the hypothalamus are pointed out. The interaction
between the hypothalamic-adrenal axis and the serotonergic system located in the
brainstem is included. The involvement of the specific subreceptors of neurotransmitters
and neuropeptides, on which prophylactic drugs could exert a therapeutic effect, is
discussed.
Keywords: Affective symptoms, brainstem, center of the circadian rhythm,
corticotropin-releasing hormone, dopamine, dorsal raphe nucleus, glutamate,
hippocampus, hypothalamus, locus coeruleus, medial raphe nucleus, neural
network, mesolimbic system, mood center, nicotinic cholinergic receptor,
prefrontal cortex, presynaptic inhibition, schizophrenic symptoms, serotonin,
ventral tegmental area.
