Computational modelling of mechanisms in psychosis
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Using computational modelling to characterise and plan treatments for schizophrenia (COMPS)
IRAS ID
320101
Contact name
Rick Adams
Contact email
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Z6364106/2022/09/21, Data Protection number (UCL)
Duration of Study in the UK
7 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Schizophrenia is a potentially devastating psychiatric disorder in which those with the disorder can be tormented by voices and paranoid feelings. Unfortunately we still only have one established drug target for treating the disorder: dopamine 2 receptors. This project aims to explore other potential treatment targets: excitatory and inhibitory neurons in the outer surface (cortex) of the brain. It will do this by collecting magnetoencephalography (MEG) data from individuals with a schizophrenia diagnosis and controls, while they perform very simple tasks. We will then use computational modelling to infer whether excitatory and/or inhibitory neurons are not working properly from the MEG data. (We may also collect MRI data, which helps us interpret the MEG data, as it gives us better information about brain structure and the localisation of brain activity within individuals.) These analyses will tell us which of these cells might be best to target with drug treatments in future work.
REC name
London - Surrey Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/LO/0497
Date of REC Opinion
26 Jul 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion