Researchers have identified that the problem is related to the mid-dorsal thalamus region, which is connected to the frontal cortex and controls decision-making and flexible thinking. Notably, the researchers managed to reverse the effects using optogenetics, as activating the neurons in this area returned the mice's behavior to normal, confirming the direct role of this circuit in disease-related behaviors. Although grin2a mutations exist only in a small percentage of schizophrenia patients, the circuit itself represents a common pathway that contributes to cognitive impairment in various forms. They discovered a genetic mutation affecting a brain circuit, and when this circuit is disrupted, the brain continues to cling to old ideas even in the face of new facts. This mutation interferes with the brain's ability to modify decisions based on new information, a problem that closely reflects the cognitive symptoms seen in schizophrenia. Experiments on mice showed that the mutation occurring in the grin2a gene linked to schizophrenia interferes with the brain's ability to modify decisions based on new information. The results suggest the possibility of developing future therapies targeting this circuit to improve thinking and decision-making in patients. The researchers stated that if this brain circuit does not work well, it makes the brain unable to integrate information quickly, which explains some manifestations of cognitive weakness that are a major part of schizophrenia. It also turned out that the mice with this mutation had difficulty adapting to tasks that require effective decision-making, while the healthy mice quickly adapted to changes in rewards. "Sai Daily".
