Link to video on the SUCEDE YouTube Channel
In our most recent working session, Emma Osorio, a predoctoral researcher at SUCEDE, presented progress on the analysis of the Perturbational Complexity Index (PCI) as applied to the different cognitive biotypes we are identifying in our patients.
The PCI is a measure of brain activity complexity that allows us to evaluate the brain’s capacity to integrate information while maintaining a differentiated response. This metric, obtained through TMS-EEG, is emerging as a key biomarker for understanding states of consciousness and functional alterations across the psychosis spectrum.
Key points of the session:
- What does PCI measure?: Emma explained how this index reflects the optimal balance between integration (connectivity between areas) and differentiation (variety of neuronal response). A low PCI indicates a system that is either too fragmented or too rigid and redundant.
- Results by Biotypes: Comparative data between different cognitive clusters were presented. The results show a significant alteration of PCI in patients with greater cognitive impairment (Cluster 1), suggesting that the loss of brain complexity is closely linked to cognitive functionality.
- Schizophrenia vs. Bipolar Disorder: During the discussion, differences in PCI levels between patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder were addressed, as well as the potential impact of treatments such as lithium on these neurophysiological parameters.
- Integrated Information Theory: The session included a review of how these findings fit within Tononi’s theory, providing a solid foundation for interpreting psychosis as an imbalance in global brain dynamics.
These results strengthen our research line focused on the sub-typing of psychosis, moving toward more precise diagnoses based on objective biological measures rather than clinical symptom observation alone.
You can watch the full presentation and the subsequent technical discussion at the following link:
Session Video: https://youtu.be/T7N3j2hydno