Abnormal patterns in brain activity could help detect schizophrenia
Siblings, those with schizophrenia and those without it, share a brain "signature" that could help scientists develop early diagnosis and even personalised treatment, EPFL researchers say.
Keystone / Christof Schuerpf
People suffering from the disorder and their healthy siblings share a brain “signature” that could help with early diagnosis and the development of new treatments, say researchers at the Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL).
This content was published on
2 minutes
swissinfo.ch/gw
Português
pt
Anormalidade na atividade cerebral pode ajudar a diagnosticar esquizofrenia
Schizophrenia, which usually first appears in adolescents and young adults, originates from many different genetic variants that cause the developing brain to go awry. This makes it difficult to detect who may be at risk of developing the neuropsychiatric disorder.
Scientists at the EPFL analysed the brain patterns of 101 people with schizophrenia, 43 of their unaffected siblings, and 75 healthy individuals with no family history of schizophrenia.
The team scanned the participants’ brains using resting-state electroencephalography (EEG). Their findings, published in the journal Nature Communications, reveal the same brain activity patterns for certain types of neuronal activity or EEG microstates – class C and class D specifically – in people with the disorder and their siblings but not in healthy participants.
However, a third type of microstate, class B, occurred more frequently and for longer periods in healthy siblings than in those with schizophrenia. This may explain why the siblings do not display symptoms of the disorder, despite sharing the same brain “signature” as their relatives with schizophrenia.
“This could be a protection mechanism that prevents the imbalance in microstates class C and D from creating functional problems,” said researcher Janir Ramos da Cruz.
Study co-author Michael Herzog said that looking for abnormal patterns in brain waves could help with early detection, before symptoms appear, and even inform personalised treatment and prevention strategies.
Train vs plane: would you take a direct train between London and Geneva?
Eurostar is planning to run direct trains from Britain to Germany and Switzerland from the early 2030s. Would you favour the train over the plane? If not, why not?
Swiss voters to decide on three issues on November 30
This content was published on
Compulsory service for all, a tax on million-dollar inheritances, more indirect subsidies for media publishers: the electorate can vote on these three national issues on November 30.
Dollar falls to lowest level against franc in 14 years
This content was published on
The weakness of the dollar in recent weeks continues. The greenback hit new lows for the year against both the franc and the euro on Tuesday.
This content was published on
Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter has met French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss the EU treaties and geopolitical challenges. US tariffs were also part of the bilateral talks.
This content was published on
Swiss moors and floodplains are in a poor state. Researchers say further efforts are needed to preserve these biotopes in the long term.
Drones banned during the three Euro games in St Gallen
This content was published on
The St. Gallen government has issued a temporary ban on flying drones around the football stadium in St. Gallen. The measure will apply on three match days of Euro 2025, which starts on Wednesday.
EU nationals come to Switzerland primarily to work
This content was published on
Given the demographic slowdown, the Swiss labour market must remain open, argues the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) in its annual report on the free movement of people.
UN expert accuses Glencore of complicity with Israel
This content was published on
The UN Special Rapporteur on the Palestinian Territories has accused Zug-based Glencore of profiting from an Israeli economy that has become "an economy of genocide".
Swiss parliamentary commission to investigate F-35 purchase
This content was published on
The Swiss government and the other responsible authorities must once again answer critical questions about the procurement of the F-35 fighter jets.
Objections and appeals most common obstacles to residential construction projects
This content was published on
Objections and appeals are most frequently responsible for delays in new residential construction projects in Switzerland.
Swiss electricity prices predicted to fall in 2026
This content was published on
Electricity prices in 2026 are likely to be lower than this year, according to a survey. The main reason is the fall in prices on the electricity market.
This content was published on
A national campaign to promote student mental health has been launched following concerns that the pressure on young people at university is too high.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.