Cerebellar Network Simulations to Investigate Neural Correlates Underlying Schizophrenia

The thesis has the purpose to explain the work done in the Neurocomputation Laboratory of the University of Pavia setting and analysing cerebellar network simulations to investigate neural correlates underlying schizophrenia. After a brief introduction on neural computation, the first chapter of the thesis will concentrate on schizophrenia in general, pointing out the history and main characteristics of the disorder (definition according to the DSM – 5, positive and negative symptoms, and cortical implications and connectivity), functional, and morphological implications and dysfunctions in the disorder. The second chapter of the thesis will concentrate on cerebellar physiology and functions, crucial elements to build a biophysical cerebellar model, and test it in specific simulations. This chapter will also focus on the relationship between the cerebellum and schizophrenia, a crucial element to identify how to manipulate the cerebellar model in order to reproduce a “schizophrenic cerebellar model” in terms of structural and functional characteristics. The third chapter will focus on the methods: a brain scaffold builder, a codebase for reconstructing and simulating the cerebellar model, and the introduction into the model configuration of specific modifications ascribed to the pathology under study. This means to build a “schizophrenic” cerebellum model. The fourth and last chapter of the thesis will focus on functional simulations of such “schizophrenic” cerebellar networks. This chapter will include the explanation of procedures and results obtained through the simulations, as well as the interpretation of the results. In conclusion, the thesis will examine the limits and future perspectives about cerebellar neural modelling in understanding neurodevelopmental brain diseases.