Understanding hallucinations across the spectrum of schizophrenia: from schizotypy to psychosis

Hallucinations constitute a core symptom across the schizophrenia spectrum, manifesting not only in clinical populations but also among individuals with high schizotypal traits in the general population. My research has consistently aimed at elucidating the mechanisms underlying these perceptual anomalies. Initially, I explored schizotypy through a mirror-gazing paradigm, demonstrating that prolonged mirror exposure induces anomalous self-perceptions associated with schizotypal traits, thereby offering valuable insights into the continuum of psychosis risk. Subsequently, extending these findings into clinical applications, my work employed neurofeedback to modulate activity within the default mode network (DMN), with the aim of reducing perceptual anomalies in individuals exhibiting high schizotypy and in schizophrenia patients experiencing persistent hallucinations. Building upon these preliminary results, my upcoming project will further explore auditory verbal hallucinations with emotional/negative content in schizophrenia, combining ecological momentary assessments with neuroimaging and neuro-guided transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) interventions. This comprehensive approach aims to refine therapeutic targets, enhance individualized treatment strategies, and deepen our understanding of hallucination phenomenology across the schizophrenia spectrum.

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