Unraveling the mysteries of schizophrenia: Insights into prefrontal cortex dysfunction and therapeutic implications

Figure 1 N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor hypofunction-induced GABAergic disruption and dopaminergic dysregulation in schizophrenia. N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor hypofunction on GABAergic interneurons disrupts the excitatory-inhibitory balance in cortical circuits, leading to excessive glutamatergic activity. This imbalance impairs neural synchrony and information processing, contributing to positive and cognitive symptoms. Furthermore, N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor dysfunction induces deficits in GABAergic interneurons, resulting in aberrant local circuit dynamics and long-range disconnections, including dysregulation of the dopamine system. NMDA: N-methyl-D-aspartate; GABA: Gamma aminobutyric acid.