The brain basis of reality distortion: testing the predictive coding theory of delusions and hallucinations (BRAIN-PRED)
Schizophrenia is the third leading cause of disability among young people, with an estimated annual cost of 8 billion euros in Spain. Two of its major symptoms are delusions and hallucinations, collectively referred to as `positive symptoms' or `reality distortion'. Despite extended investigation, their underlying mechanisms have resisted understanding.
In recent years theories that involve so-called predictive coding and prediction errors have become the dominant approach to these symptoms. Thus, delusions can be related theoretically to abnormal generation of reward prediction error (RPE), leading to abnormal `salience' (i.e., behavioural significance) becoming attached to neutral events in the environment, and then to abnormal interpretations of these events. On the other hand, there is an intuitive conceptual link between hallucinations and disturbed predictive processes in perception. Nevertheless, experimental testing of this novel and important theoretical approach remains limited, especially at the level of brain function.
This project will use fMRI during performance of novel tasks to systematically examine the role of predictive coding and prediction errors in schizophrenia, with particular reference to the symptoms of reality distortion, i.e., delusions and hallucinations, and taking into consideration the role of gender and other clinical variables. Its results will have a great transfer potential, since they could potentially identify new therapeutic targets to treat these symptoms.
103.750,00 €
Instituto de Salud Carlos III y cofinanciado por la Unión Europea.
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![isciii[1]](https://fidmag.org/en/img/0-60-ESCALA/isciii1.png "isciii[1]")
