Psychiatric disorders like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are relatively common, yet diagnosing and treating them remains complex. Although clinicians can identify the clinical symptoms associated with these disorders, our knowledge of their biological characteristics and underlying physiological causes is still limited.
Experts agree that problems with synapses—the connections that allow communication between neurons—might be a defining feature of many psychiatric disorders. In theory, if we could analyze the characteristics of synapses in patients with psychiatric disorders, it would be possible to understand their biological basis. However, thus far, observing synapses in live humans has been challenging, and the progress in this area has been limited.
Fortunately, researchers from Yokohama City University (YCU) and other institutions in Japan have been actively working toward a solution to this problem.