On the Origin of Paroxysmal Depolarization Shifts: The Contribution of Ca1.x Channels as the Common Denominator of a Polymorphous Neuronal Discharge Pattern.

Since their discovery in the 1960s, the term paroxysmal depolarization shift (PDS) has been applied to a wide variety of reinforced neuronal discharge patterns. Occurrence of PDS as cellular correlates of electrographic spikes during latent phases of insult-induced rodent epilepsy models and their resemblance to giant depolarizing potentials (GDPs) nourished the idea that PDS may be involved in epileptogenesis. Both GDPs and - in analogy - PDS may lead to progressive changes of neuronal properties by generation of pulsatile intracellular Ca elevations.

A randomized-controlled trial of heart rate variability biofeedback for psychotic symptoms.

Arousal and the way it is coped with are relevant to the emergence of psychotic symptoms. Heart rate variability (HRV) stems from autonomic responses to environmental demands such as stress and is an index of physiological arousal, adaptability, and homeostatic reflexes forming autonomic balance. A randomized-controlled between-subjects trial that compared HRV-biofeedback (BF) to an active relaxation and to a waiting control condition was conducted in a sample with attenuated subclinical psychotic symptoms (N = 84).

Resting vagal activity in schizophrenia: meta-analysis of heart rate variability as a potential endophenotype.

Background: Cardiac vagal tone, indexed by heart rate variability (HRV), is a proxy for the functional integrity of feedback mechanisms integrating central and peripheral physiology.

Aims: To quantify differences in HRV in individuals with schizophrenia compared with healthy controls.

Method: Databases were systematically searched for studies eligible for inclusion.