NIMHANS, IITBBS researchers find new way to decode schizophrenia, uses chaos theory to map how brain’s signals behave over time

Bhubaneswar: Scientists from NIMHANS, Bengaluru, and IIT Bhubaneswar have found a new way to study schizophrenia by tracking how the brain’s signals behave over time. Using principles of Chaos Theory, the study sheds light on how the disorder progresses and how treatment may work differently for each patient.

It aims to improve diagnosis and treatment of one of the most complex mental health disorders.Mental health conditions affect nearly 15% of people worldwide, and schizophrenia is among the most severe. It usually begins in late adolescence or early adulthood, often disrupting productive years of life. Scientists associated with the study said understanding how the brain works in such conditions is key to finding better treatment.Researchers used functional MRI (fMRI), a brain imaging technique that tracks changes in blood oxygen levels, to study brain activity. They focused on resting-state signals (brain activity when a person is not doing any specific task) to understand how different brain regions communicate in schizophrenia patients.To analyse these signals, scientists designed a special system based on Chaos Theory, which views the disorder as a dynamical disease where brain activity, behaviour and thought processes display chaotic, non-linear dynamics rather than ordered patterns.

Researchers said the system allowed them to track how brain activity changes over time and how it responds to treatment such as medication, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).One of the key outcomes of the study was the development of a new tool called the Chaotic Dynamics Marker (CDM). “This marker can help doctors measure how well a patient is recovering and guide treatment decisions.

The study also found that some treatments may have different effects if used beyond certain levels, highlighting the need for treatment tailored to each patient,” said Brahma Deo, MGM chair professor, IIT Bhubaneswar.Researchers from both IIT and NIMHANS have also created a unique model called U-KBBC, which produces a visual pattern named ‘Sudarshan’. This pattern changes shape based on a patient’s brain signals, helping scientists track disease progression and recovery.

The variations generate patient-specific markers, including CDM and a synchronisation measure (SyncSZ), enabling detailed tracking of disease assessment, progression, and recovery.“At IIT, we have also developed a portable electronic device, Chinmoy, embedded with the U-KBBC system, enhancing the potential for real-world clinical applications. A joint patent has been filed by NIMHANS Bengaluru and IIT Bhubaneswar to protect this innovation,” added Deo. Researchers aim to extend this work across medical institutions. Researchers included Urvakhsh Meherwan Mehta from NIMHANS and IIT Bhubaneswar professors Kousik Samanta, Barathram Ramkumar and PhD research scholar Chinmoy Raj Hota, besides Deo.