NMDA receptor function in large-scale anticorrelated neural systems with implications for cognition and schizophrenia
Alan Anticevic, Mark Gancsos, John D Murray, Grega Repovs, Naomi R Driesen, Debra J Ennis, Mark J Niciu, Peter T Morgan, Toral S Surti, Michael H Bloch, Ramachandran Ramani, Mark A Smith, Xiao-Jing Wang, John H Krystal, Philip R Corlett, Alan Anticevic, Mark Gancsos, John D Murray, Grega Repovs, Naomi R Driesen, Debra J Ennis, Mark J Niciu, Peter T Morgan, Toral S Surti, Michael H Bloch, Ramachandran Ramani, Mark A Smith, Xiao-Jing Wang, John H Krystal, Philip R Corlett
Abstract
Glutamatergic neurotransmission mediated by N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors is vital for the cortical computations underlying cognition and might be disrupted in severe neuropsychiatric illnesses such as schizophrenia. Studies on this topic have been limited to processes in local circuits; however, cognition involves large-scale brain systems with multiple interacting regions. A prominent feature of the human brain's global architecture is the anticorrelation of default-mode vs. task-positive systems. Here, we show that administration of an NMDA glutamate receptor antagonist, ketamine, disrupted the reciprocal relationship between these systems in terms of task-dependent activation and connectivity during performance of delayed working memory. Furthermore, the degree of this disruption predicted task performance and transiently evoked symptoms characteristic of schizophrenia. We offer a parsimonious hypothesis for this disruption via biophysically realistic computational modeling, namely cortical disinhibition. Together, the present findings establish links between glutamate's role in the organization of large-scale anticorrelated neural systems, cognition, and symptoms associated with schizophrenia in humans.
Conflict of interest statement
Conflict of interest statement: J.H.K. has been a paid consultant for AbbVie, Inc. (formerly Abbott Laboratories); Aisling Capital, LLC; AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Eisai, Inc.; Eli Lilly and Co.; Gilead Sciences, Inc.; Lundbeck Research USA; Medivation, Inc.; Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc.; Roche F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd; Sage Therapeutics, Inc.; Shire Pharmaceuticals; Takeda Industries; and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd. J.H.K. serves as a member of the Scientific Advisory Boards for CHDI Foundation, Inc.; Lohocla Research Corporation; Mnemosyne Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Naurex, Inc.; and Pfizer Pharmaceuticals. J.H.K. is a member of the Board of Directors for the Coalition for Translational Research in Alcohol and Substance Use Disorders, is the President Elect of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, and is the Editor of Biological Psychiatry. J.H.K. is listed as an inventor on the patent: Seibyl JP, Krystal JH, Charney DS (1995) US Patent 5,447,948. J.H.K. is listed as an inventor on a patent application by Yale University related to targeting the glutamatergic system for the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders (application no. PCTWO06108055A1). J.H.K. is listed on a pending patent application related to intranasal administration of ketamine to treat depression. The other authors declare no conflict of interest.
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Source: PubMed