Is it possible to objectively measure the level of integration and differentiation of brain activity in psychosis? Dr. Vicente Molina, Principal Investigator of SUCEDE, shared the group’s most recent findings using a combination of cutting-edge techniques: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation combined with Electroencephalography (TMS/EEG).
The focus of this presentation lies on the Perturbational Complexity Index (PCI) and the LICI paradigm (Long-Interval Cortical Inhibition). Unlike resting-state measures, the “perturb-and-measure” technique allows for the evaluation of the thalamocortical system’s response capacity. The results consistently indicate that patients with schizophrenia exhibit a significantly reduced PCI, reflecting a loss of complexity in the brain’s effective connectivity.
This finding is crucial, as the PCI appears to behave as a stable marker of cortical dysfunction, enabling the differentiation of psychosis biotypes beyond traditional DSM clinical categories. The session concludes by analyzing how factors such as myelination may underlie this deficient propagation of electrical signals.
Watch the full session here: https://youtu.be/4IhVr9RD5mI