Computational Systems Neuropsychiatry – Perspektives of a theoretical Neuropsychiatry

1. Theoretical Neuropsychiatry and the dynamics of the synapse Neuronal signal transmission (e.g. synapse) is focus of neuropsychiatric explanatory theorems. However, they are not integrated into explicit complex network theories of functions/dysfunctions of the brain. Such theories need mathematics and computer-based computation (in-silico modelling; comp. “Computational Neuroscience“). In this way, synapse dynamics (release of transmitters [TM] and its autoinhibition by presynaptic receptor occupation, reuptake etc.) as a acute process and as adaptation during chronic processes should be modeled with the postsynaptic membrane potential as target. Only a few such „naturalistic“ computer models of (dopamine) synapses are published yet (Gruber et al. 2003, JNeurophys). Only very rarely, the specifics of D1/D2 receptors, pre-/post-/extrasyn. D2 receptors, effects of localisation on the cell and on inhibitory versus excitatory cells in the network are represented in these models. Also intracellular molecular signal transduction networks are not yet modeled as feedback systems („Systems Biology of the Neuron“;Fernandez et al. 2006, PloS Comp Biol). 2. Computational Systems Neuropsychiatry This network complexity of the single synapse shows that integration of Computational Systems Science/Systems Biology into theoretical Psychiatry is unformidable. It will be reported of several workshops on this new approach (Tretter et al. [Ed]Pharmacopsychiatry 2006 S1).

This study was supported by BMS, Lilly, Pfizer