In two minds? Is schizophrenia a state ‘trapped’ between waking and dreaming?
Introduction
Schizophrenia is a disordered global state of mind. Assuming mind/brain isomorphism, it is also a disordered ‘brain state’. This assumption does not have to be reductionist (minds are nothing more than chemical brain states) if mind is taken to be a consequence of brain processes [1]. Mind emerges from the brain’s complex non-linear interactive networks [2], [3]. So schizophrenia is not only a disordered global state of mind it’s also a disordered brain state. Where does it come from?
A reasonable starting point for thinking about this question is to consider the other global states of mind/brain that human beings inhabit. There are pathological brain states, coma, for example. But coma is unconsciousness- it is not a state of mind. There are two normal, active, global mind/brain states: waking and dreaming. What if these two mind/brain states got chronically and chaotically ‘mixed up’?
The hypothesis is: ‘Schizophrenia’ is a global state of mind/brain ‘trapped’ between waking and dreaming; it’s a disordered ‘in-between’ state, neither waking nor dreaming works properly because the mind/brain is attempting two, ultimately incompatible, sets of functions simultaneously.
The paper synthesises evidence from four different domains in support of this hypothesis: the chemistry of the dreaming state; work on dreaming as functional for memory; the membrane theory of schizophrenia; and chaos theory.
Section snippets
Dreaming and waking as global mind/brain states
Dreaming and waking are different global states of mind/brain because they are constituted through different neuromodulators. Neuromodulators ensure unified, coherent mind/brain responses. The aminergic group of neuromodulators (noradrenergic, serotonergic and histominergic) are most active during waking and the cholinergic (acetylcholine) in dreaming [1], [4]. But although the ‘drivers’ of waking and dreaming vary and different brain regions are involved, both states are more or less equally
Is dreaming functional for memory?
Most research on memory is actually about memorizing; it has been advocated that researchers should return to the fundamental question of what memory is for [10]. Memory maintains a sense of self. To be myself I must remember things that are relevant to my concerns (or ‘motivated ideas’). There is evidence that concerns appear in dreams [11], [12], [13], [14] and, as argued above, dopaminergic neuromodulators may ensure that dreams reflect concerns. As understood here a ‘concern’ is not only a
Chaos theory, creativity and schizophrenia
The brain is a complex non-linear dynamic interactive system of connected neurons; it is capable of self-organization through utilising sensory signals and its modulatory systems [50]. A self-organizing system exhibits the properties of emergent order; it self-organizes into a coherent whole, producing itself through autopoiesis [49], [51]. This self-production isn’t stable or fixed; there is a attractor [52] that leads the system to settle dynamically at the ‘edge of chaos’.
‘For complex
The ‘membrane’ theory of schizophrenia
There is evidence of membrane abnormalities in patients who are being treated for schizophrenia. [59], [60], [61], [62] Membrane deficits occur early in illness and prior to the initiation of treatment, indicating that they may be trait-related [63]. There are now several double blind trials that demonstrate the efficacy of a particular omega-3 EFA, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), as an adjunct treatment for already medicated patients with schizophrenia [64], [65], [66], [67] and, indicative
Discussion: schizophrenia as an ‘in-between’ state
This paper proposes that schizophrenia results from the mind/brain becoming ‘trapped’ between dreaming and waking. In sum, this occurs in the following way. Genetic susceptibility to schizophrenia is expressed through fatty acid deficiencies which precipitate neuronal cell membrane abnormalities. All neurotransmitters become disrupted but there will be variability in the extent and involvement of particular systems. The normal reciprocal and mutual relationship between the aminergic and
Concluding comments
Schizophrenia, severe mental illness. Schizoid, in two minds, ‘trapped’ in an ‘in-between world’-waking and dreaming at the same time. The paradox is that waking and dreaming are our normal states of mind- we inhabit them everyday. But in ‘schizophrenia’ they become chaotically and chronically mixed up with devastating consequences.
As yet, imaging techniques cannot demonstrate the dynamics of neuromodulation [79], [80], so this hypothesis cannot be tested inductively. However this paper
Conflict of interest statement
There is no conflict of interest statement.
Acknowledgement
I thank J. Allan Hobson for his helpful and encouraging comments on this manuscript.
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