Brain Evolution, Language and Psychopathology in Schizophrenia

This book provides a comprehensive review of new developments in the study of language processing and related neural networks in schizophrenia by addressing the complex link between psychopathology, language and evolution at different levels of analysis. Psychopathological symptoms in schizophrenia are mainly characterized by thought and language disorders, which are strictly intertwined. In particular, language is the distinctive dimension of human beings and is ontologically related to brain development. Although normal at the levels of segmental phonology and morphological organization, the speech of patients suffering from schizophrenia is often characterized by flattened intonation and word-finding difficulties. Furthermore, research suggests that the superior temporal gyrus and specific prefrontal areas which support language in humans are altered in people with schizophrenia. Brambilla and Marini bring together international contributors to explore the link between brain evolution and the psychopathological features of schizophrenia, with a focus on language and its neural underpinnings. Divided into three sections the book covers: • brain evolution and language phylogenesis• brain abnormalities in schizophrenia • psychopathology and schizophrenia. This theoretical approach will appeal to professionals including clinical psychologists, cognitive neuroscientists, neuropsychiatrists, neuropsychologists, neurolinguists, and researchers considering the links between brain evolution, language and psychopathology in schizophrenia.

Part 1: Brain Evolution and Language Phylogenesis 1. Genes and the Evolution ofLanguage Lieberman 2.Navigation, Discourse and theOrigin of Language Ferretti 3. Phylogenetic Aspects of the World and Self-Representation inHumans Fabbro and Bergamasco Part 2: Brain Abnormalities in Schizophrenia 4. Auditory Cortex Asymmetry and Language Processing in Schizophrenia Chance and Casanova 5. Disordered Brain Network Function in Adolescence: Impact on Thought, Language and Vulnerability for Schizophrenia Diwadkar and Ofen6. Corpus Callosum, Inter-Hemispheric Communication and Language Disturbances in Schizophrenia Perlini, Bellani and Brambilla7. Structural and Functional Brain Imaging Correlates of Thought Disorder and Other Speech Abnormalities in Schizophrenia Watson and Lawrie 8.Brain Structureal Abnormalities, Social Function and Psychopathology in Schizophrenia Padmanabhan, Hooker and KeshavanPart 3: Psychopathology and Schizophrenia 9. Thought, Hallucinations and Schizophrenia Modinos and McGuire10. Neural Correlates of Cognitive Control and Language Processing in Schizophrenia Scangos and Carter 11. Narrative Language Production in Schizophrenia Marini and Perlini 12. Social Premorbid Adjustment and Linguistic Abilities in First Episode Schizophrenia Suárez-Pinilla, Chadi, Ayesa-Arriola and Crespo-Facorro 13. Symptoms, Thought Disorders and Cognitive Remediation Treatment in Schizophrenia De Peri and Vita 14. Concluding Remarks Marini and Brambilla

Paolo Brambilla is Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Udine, Italy. Andrea Marini is Assistant Professor of Cognitive Psychology at the University of Udine, Italy.