Figure 3.

Overview of neurotransmitter systems implicated in schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia is associated with dysfunction in specific brain regions, notably the prefrontal cortex, midbrain, and hippocampus. Within the prefrontal cortex, several neurotransmitter signaling pathways, including glutamatergic, serotonergic, and muscarinic systems, are involved. Disruption in any of these pathways may contribute to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. The muscarinic signaling pathway also plays a significant role in the hippocampus, where cholinergic neurons interact with CA1 pyramidal neurons through the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. In the midbrain, dopaminergic neurons communicate with medium spiny neurons in the nucleus accumbens, primarily through the release of dopamine. These interactions highlight the complex neurochemical landscape that underlies schizophrenia and its associated cognitive deficits. Created with BioRender.com. GABA: Gamma aminobutyric acid.