Project Summary

Daniel S.G. Umbricht, M.D. (Independent Investigator 2002) of Psychiatric University Hospital, Zurich, notes that both human and animal studies indicate that deficient functioning of the NMDA receptor may play an important role in cognitive deficits and particularly in dysfunction of the auditory sensory memory, but the precise molecular biology underlying these deficits is poorly understood.  The goal of his project is to develop and characterize a mouse model of echoic memory (auditory sensory memory) and to investigate its molecular biology.   In schizophrenia, deficits in echoic memory result in an impaired ability to discriminate tones following brief delay and in deficient generation of an event-related potential (ERP) mismatch negativity.  Dr. Umbricht hopes to elucidate the specific role of the NMDA receptor and its subunits in echoic memory functions, i.e., its effects on behavioral and electrophysiological manifestations of the echoic memory.  He hopes his animal model will prove instructive in directing future pharmacological, pathophysiological, and genetic research for patients by increasing knowledge of the molecular and genetic basis of cognitive deficits in schizophrenia.

Program Area: SCHIZOPHRENIA/PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS\Schizophrenia

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