Neural mechanisms and circuit foundations of conscious and unconscious dysfunction in schizophrenia

Schizophrenia involves marked abnormalities in consciousness, particularly in the interplay between implicit and explicit cognitive processing. Evidence from visual masking and mismatch negativity paradigms indicates deficits from preattentive stages to conscious access. Metacognitive impairments in error and source monitoring suggest implicit processing fails to achieve stable explicit representation. These abnormalities are linked to predictive coding errors, thalamocortical dysconnectivity, and aberrant neural synchrony. This framework connects micro-level sensory deficits with macro-level psychotic phenomenology and may guide future transdiagnostic neuromodulatory interventions.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Schizophrenia is associated with marked abnormalities in consciousness, specifically in the interplay between implicit and explicit cognitive processing.However, whether these deficits originate from early sensory degradation or late-stage access failures remains heavily debated.This narrative review synthesizes psychophysical, electrophysiological, and neuroimaging literature to evaluate these contrasting models.Visual masking and mismatch negativity paradigms suggest abnormalities extending from preattentive stages to conscious access.Metacognitive impairments in error and source monitoring further suggest that implicit processing may fail to achieve stable explicit representation.These abnormalities have been linked to predictive coding errors, thalamocortical dysconnectivity, and aberrant neural synchrony.This integrated framework seeks to connect micro-level sensory deficits with macro-level psychotic phenomenology and may help guide future transdiagnostic neuromodulatory interventions.