Recent work from researchers at a major Russian university has identified that five to ten large-scale brain networks are linked to the emergence of hallucinations and delusions in schizophrenia. The team, based at Moscow State University’s Institute for Advanced Brain Research, along with clinical collaborators in neuropsychiatry, has been examining how these networks distribute across the brain and how they interact to shape troubled cognition. The spokesperson behind these findings is a senior researcher at MV Lomonosov and the Scientific and Clinical Research Center for Neuropsychiatry, with expertise in hospital-based neuropsychiatric care.
According to the lead scientist, the brain’s networks do not form a single, uniform map. Instead, they are scattered in diverse regions, with some areas showing shared patterns of dysfunction and others displaying unique, region-specific faults. His team describes an initial exploratory approach in which regions were identified as active, then their connections and coordinated behavior were traced through morphometric, tractographic, and functional analyses. The aim is to build a more precise, data-driven picture of how these networks shift in the presence of psychotic symptoms. This work continues to unfold, with the team pursuing deeper, more detailed insights into network dynamics and their clinical relevance.
The study employs a combination of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and polygraph devices to capture physiological and neural signals. The polygraph records cues tied to memory and emotional salience, while MRI provides a window into brain activity. When used together, these tools help clinicians map how memories and autonomic states align with neural events that accompany delusions and hallucinations. The MRI-compatible polygraph can monitor markers such as breathing patterns, skin conductance, heart rate, and related cardiovascular signals, painting a more complete picture of the patient’s state during assessment.
In the clinical workflow, a patient’s own name is first presented, tapping into a robust, automatic brain response to personal relevance. Observers look for how the polygraph indices shift in response to this highly familiar stimulus, gauging the level of alertness and emotional significance. The next step uses functional MRI to visualize the brain networks that become active when delusional or hallucinatory experiences are reported or suspected.
Clinicians sometimes present the patient with a fictional, delusional scenario that the patient might perceive as real. For example, a statement such as a belief that a powerful institution is following them can be introduced. In such cases, the contrast between real and imagined content can be observed, and the combination of polygraph data and fMRI images reveals which neural circuits are engaged when the subject evaluates these claims. This approach helps researchers understand how different thoughts and beliefs are represented in the brain and how they relate to the patient’s lived experience.
Schizophrenia remains one of medicine’s most perplexing conditions. Despite decades of study, the exact causes are not fully understood, there is no single objective diagnostic test, and current treatments do not cure the illness. Researchers continue to ask whether a practical, clinically useful test for schizophrenia might ever be developed, and what form it would take in real-world practice. The ongoing investigations emphasize the need for a nuanced view of brain networks and their role in psychosis, rather than a simplistic, one-size-fits-all biomarker.
Historical observations remind us that paranoid thoughts can influence memory and perception, shaping how people recall events and interpret signals from their environment. Modern neuroimaging work aims to translate these insights into clearer pictures of brain function, offering the possibility of improved assessment and, ultimately, better-targeted interventions for those living with schizophrenia. The line between memory, emotion, and perception is intricate, and current research continues to map this terrain with ever-increasing precision.