Cerebellar Cortical Circuitry in Schizophrenia: A Cellular Framework for Predictive Dysfunction and Psychosis

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Autori principali: Faris, Pawan, Vergani, Alberto Arturo, Heredia-Ortiz, Isabella, Masoli, Stefano, Fusar-Poli, Paolo, D'ANGELO, EGIDIO UGO
Natura: Recurso digital
Lingua:inglese
Pubblicazione: Zenodo 2026
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author Faris, Pawan
Vergani, Alberto Arturo
Heredia-Ortiz, Isabella
Masoli, Stefano
Fusar-Poli, Paolo
D'ANGELO, EGIDIO UGO
author_facet Faris, Pawan
Vergani, Alberto Arturo
Heredia-Ortiz, Isabella
Masoli, Stefano
Fusar-Poli, Paolo
D'ANGELO, EGIDIO UGO
contents <p><strong>Abstract</strong><br>Schizophrenia (SZ) is a neuropsychiatric disorder characterised by progressive alterations across distributed brain networks that emerge across clinical stages from at-risk states to chronic illness. While traditionally centred on cortical and subcortical regions, converging evidence implicates the cerebellum as a critical node in the pathophysiology of SZ in relation to cognitive dysfunction and impaired predictive processing. Advancing this framework requires moving beyond systems-level observation to define the cellular and microcircuit mechanisms underlying cerebellar involvement. Here, we synthesise evidence on cerebellar cellular alterations in SZ, based on a structured analysis of human postmortem studies, neuroimaging findings, and experimental models relevant to SZ pathophysiology. Across principal neuronal populations, including Purkinje cells, granule cells, and inhibitory interneurons, data reveal convergent microstructural and functional abnormalities rather than uniform neuronal loss. Purkinje cells exhibit reduced dendritic complexity, decreased spine density, and altered intrinsic and synaptic properties, indicating impaired integration and output signalling. In parallel, alterations in the granular layer, including disrupted development, synaptic organisation, and NMDA receptor–dependent plasticity, are likely to impair input processing. These changes are accompanied by widespread alterations in GABAergic, glutamatergic, serotonergic, and dopaminergic signalling, leading to disruption of E/I tone across the cerebellum. We hypothesise that the synergistic impairment of cerebellar input transformation and output represents a fundamental substrate in SZ. Within a predictive processing framework, these deficits are hypothesised to derail internal model formation and prediction error signalling, thereby precipitating impairments in cognitive coordination, multisensory integration, and salience processing. This multi-scale synthesis provides a mechanistic scaffold for understanding the cerebellar contribution to the cognitive and perceptual landscape of SZ, while highlighting the imperative for future research to integrate longitudinal, cellular, and computational approaches.</p>
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publishDate 2026
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spellingShingle Cerebellar Cortical Circuitry in Schizophrenia: A Cellular Framework for Predictive Dysfunction and Psychosis
Faris, Pawan
Vergani, Alberto Arturo
Heredia-Ortiz, Isabella
Masoli, Stefano
Fusar-Poli, Paolo
D'ANGELO, EGIDIO UGO
Cerebellum
Schizophrenia
Purkinje Cells
Granule cells
<p><strong>Abstract</strong><br>Schizophrenia (SZ) is a neuropsychiatric disorder characterised by progressive alterations across distributed brain networks that emerge across clinical stages from at-risk states to chronic illness. While traditionally centred on cortical and subcortical regions, converging evidence implicates the cerebellum as a critical node in the pathophysiology of SZ in relation to cognitive dysfunction and impaired predictive processing. Advancing this framework requires moving beyond systems-level observation to define the cellular and microcircuit mechanisms underlying cerebellar involvement. Here, we synthesise evidence on cerebellar cellular alterations in SZ, based on a structured analysis of human postmortem studies, neuroimaging findings, and experimental models relevant to SZ pathophysiology. Across principal neuronal populations, including Purkinje cells, granule cells, and inhibitory interneurons, data reveal convergent microstructural and functional abnormalities rather than uniform neuronal loss. Purkinje cells exhibit reduced dendritic complexity, decreased spine density, and altered intrinsic and synaptic properties, indicating impaired integration and output signalling. In parallel, alterations in the granular layer, including disrupted development, synaptic organisation, and NMDA receptor–dependent plasticity, are likely to impair input processing. These changes are accompanied by widespread alterations in GABAergic, glutamatergic, serotonergic, and dopaminergic signalling, leading to disruption of E/I tone across the cerebellum. We hypothesise that the synergistic impairment of cerebellar input transformation and output represents a fundamental substrate in SZ. Within a predictive processing framework, these deficits are hypothesised to derail internal model formation and prediction error signalling, thereby precipitating impairments in cognitive coordination, multisensory integration, and salience processing. This multi-scale synthesis provides a mechanistic scaffold for understanding the cerebellar contribution to the cognitive and perceptual landscape of SZ, while highlighting the imperative for future research to integrate longitudinal, cellular, and computational approaches.</p>
title Cerebellar Cortical Circuitry in Schizophrenia: A Cellular Framework for Predictive Dysfunction and Psychosis
topic Cerebellum
Schizophrenia
Purkinje Cells
Granule cells
url https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19337133