Neurotransmitter regulatory mechanisms of abnormal sensory attenuation in schizophrenia

doi:10.3724/SP.J.1042.2026.1832

Abstract

Abstract:

Schizophrenia, a highly disabling psychiatric disorder, presents with deficits in sensory processing as one of its clinical manifestations. A core pathological feature underlying these deficits is abnormal sensory attenuation, characterized by a failure to effectively filter internal signals generated by one’s own actions. This leads the brain to misattribute these internal signals to external sources, ultimately contributing to perceptual disturbances such as hallucinations, and severely impairing both cognitive and social functioning in affected individuals. The neurotransmitter system serves as a critical physiological pathway regulating the clinical symptoms of schizophrenia, and it plays an essential role in modulating the mechanisms of sensory attenuation. Accumulating evidence indicates that functional abnormalities in core neurotransmitter systems—including glutamate, dopamine, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)—not only constitute an important biological basis for the pathogenesis of schizophrenia but also represent key contributing factors to the disruption of sensory attenuation. The present study aims to systematically examine the influence of neurotransmitter systems on sensory attenuation by integrating perspectives from biology, genetics, and cognitive neuroscience, thereby providing a theoretical foundation for developing intervention strategies and therapeutic approaches specifically targeting sensory attenuation deficits in schizophrenia.

Key words: schizophrenia, sensory attenuation, neurotransmitter, neural pathway

CLC Number:

B845

CHEN Yiyue, ZENG Yaxin, HUANG Chaozheng, XIE Pei. Neurotransmitter regulatory mechanisms of abnormal sensory attenuation in schizophrenia[J]. Advances in Psychological Science, 2026, 34(10): 1832-1842.

Figures/Tables 1

References 74

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