Scientists Claim They’ve Discovered Where the ‘Voices’ People with Schizophrenia Hear Come From

Schizophrenia is one of the most misunderstood mental health conditions, often accompanied by hallucinations and delusions. For years, the phenomenon of auditory hallucinations—hearing voices that aren’t there—has puzzled both patients and researchers alike. However, a recent study has made a groundbreaking discovery that could provide valuable insights into this aspect of schizophrenia, offering hope for a better understanding and treatment options.

Schizophrenia can drastically affect a person’s ability to differentiate between what is real and what isn’t, which can lead to extreme distress. This study, conducted by a group of researchers, provides new findings that may pave the way for more targeted treatments. Understanding the origin of these voices is essential in reducing the stigma surrounding the condition and helping people access more effective support.

A team of scientists believe they can explain why some schizophrenic people hear voices (**Getty stock**)

What Is Schizophrenia?

Before diving into the study, let’s first understand what schizophrenia actually is. According to the Cleveland Clinic, schizophrenia is a chronic mental health condition that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. Those living with schizophrenia often experience a disconnection from reality, which can include hallucinations (such as hearing voices) and delusions (false beliefs). It’s a severe condition, but it is treatable with the right care and support, enabling those affected to lead fulfilling lives with the right treatment plan.

Schizophrenia doesn’t have a single cause, but it can result from a combination of genetic, biological, and environmental factors. Researchers have identified three main contributors:

Chemical imbalances in the brain, such as dopamine, which may interfere with thought processes
Problems in brain development that occur before birth or early childhood
Loss of connections between different parts of the brain, which can result in cognitive impairments

Now that we have a basic understanding of schizophrenia, let’s explore the fascinating findings from this new study, which sheds light on the underlying causes of auditory hallucinations.

A Groundbreaking Study: How Do Schizophrenic People ‘Hear Voices’?

Published in the journal PLOS Biology, the study is titled “Impaired motor-to-sensory transformation mediates auditory hallucinations.” The research, conducted by a team of scientists from New York University’s Shanghai campus and led by Fuyin Yang and colleagues, provides fresh insight into the causes behind auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia. This research represents a significant breakthrough, helping to explain why individuals with schizophrenia often hear voices and how the brain processes these hallucinations.

The team’s research explores how hallucinations might not stem from external sources, as most of us believe, but could be tied to internal brain mechanisms that are misfiring. Understanding these mechanisms could lead to treatments that target the specific areas of the brain responsible for these voices, helping those affected to better manage or even eliminate these hallucinations. This breakthrough brings a new level of understanding to the condition, offering hope to those living with schizophrenia.

Researchers from New York University’s Shanghai campus studied 40 patients with schizophrenia (**Getty stock**)

The Study: 40 Participants and EEG Monitoring

The team from New York University (NYU) Shanghai studied 40 individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia. Among these participants, half experienced auditory hallucinations, such as hearing voices, while the other half did not. The researchers used electroencephalogram (EEG) monitors to study the brain activity of these individuals. EEG provides real-time, detailed readings of brain wave patterns, allowing the researchers to pinpoint differences in how the brain processes auditory signals in those who experience hallucinations versus those who do not.

What Is EEG Monitoring?

An EEG measures the electrical activity in the brain. It detects brain waves by placing small electrodes on the scalp, providing valuable data about brain function and activity. This non-invasive method has been used for decades in neuroscience research and clinical settings. The EEG helped the researchers pinpoint the differences in brain function between those who heard voices and those who did not, offering a clearer view of the neural activities at play.

The combination of EEG monitoring and controlled experiments helped the researchers identify the specific motor and auditory brain functions that were implicated in causing auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia. This innovation could revolutionize how we study and understand the neurological basis of psychiatric conditions.

Key Findings: Brain Mechanisms Behind the ‘Voices’

What the researchers found was nothing short of remarkable. The mechanism behind hearing voices in people with schizophrenia is not as different from how we normally hear sounds from the outside world as previously thought. The study revealed two key brain signals that were malfunctioning in those who experienced auditory hallucinations:

The Role of ‘Corollary Discharge’
The researchers found that individuals who heard voices had a dysfunction in the “corollary discharge” signal. This signal typically helps to suppress internal sounds, like your own voice or your inner monologue, when you speak out loud. When you talk, your brain uses this mechanism to prevent you from hearing the sound of your own speech. In those with schizophrenia, this process was impaired, leading to the auditory hallucinations.
Efference Copy and Hallucinations
Additionally, those experiencing auditory hallucinations exhibited an overactive response in the motor signal called efference copy. This signal is responsible for coordinating the motor functions in the brain that are associated with speaking. When patients who heard voices spoke out loud, the response in this motor signal was hyperactive, meaning the brain misinterpreted the sound and caused the hallucination. This disconnect between motor actions and sensory feedback explains why some individuals with schizophrenia hear voices even when there is no external stimulus.

This understanding could provide a framework for developing therapies that target these dysfunctions, helping individuals regain control over their experiences of hearing voices. The findings also challenge previous theories, offering a new perspective on the root causes of auditory hallucinations.

The Hypothesis: Impaired Motor-to-Sensory Transformation

According to the researchers, the loss of inhibition in the motor-to-sensory transformation may explain how auditory hallucinations occur. They hypothesize that impairments in the functional connections between the motor and auditory systems in the brain are to blame. These impairments cause individuals to lose the ability to distinguish between real sounds and imagined ones. In essence, the brain of someone with schizophrenia fails to properly filter out internally generated sounds, leading to hallucinations.

The study concluded: “People who suffer from auditory hallucinations can ‘hear’ sounds without external stimuli.” In other words, the brain’s failure to process the difference between internally generated sounds and external sounds leads to the experience of hearing voices. This discovery adds a new layer to our understanding of schizophrenia and offers potential directions for future treatment approaches.

Implications for Treatment and Understanding Schizophrenia

This study’s findings provide valuable insights that could help in developing more effective treatments for auditory hallucinations in people with schizophrenia. By understanding how the brain fails to distinguish between real and imagined sounds, scientists may be able to develop therapies that target these specific impairments. As schizophrenia affects each individual differently, this understanding could also lead to more personalized treatments, offering tailored interventions that address the underlying brain mechanisms.

Could This Lead to Better Treatments?

The study also opens the door to more personalized treatment options. By focusing on restoring the proper function of the motor and auditory systems, researchers could help reduce or even eliminate auditory hallucinations for some patients. This could significantly improve the quality of life for those living with schizophrenia. Additionally, better understanding these neural pathways could guide future research into cognitive therapies, neurostimulation techniques, and pharmacological treatments aimed at repairing or compensating for these brain dysfunctions.

What Does This Mean for People Living with Schizophrenia?

Understanding the origins of auditory hallucinations brings us one step closer to providing better care for those suffering from schizophrenia. It’s a mental health condition that is often stigmatized, and many who experience it feel misunderstood. With research like this, however, there’s hope for more targeted treatments and a better understanding of the condition as a whole. This discovery may encourage more people to seek treatment and could reduce the stigma around mental health disorders by revealing the neurological processes involved.

Their findings revealed that two motor functions in the brains of schizophrenic people that heard voices were the reason for them (**Getty stock**)

If you or someone you know is living with schizophrenia, it’s essential to remember that it is a treatable condition. Early diagnosis and effective management are crucial to leading a fulfilling life, and new scientific discoveries, like this one, bring us closer to providing the support people need. People who are suffering from schizophrenia should be encouraged to pursue the help they deserve, as it is entirely possible to manage symptoms effectively with the right resources.

Get Support: Resources for Schizophrenia

If you or a loved one is dealing with schizophrenia or any other mental health condition, help is available. Many organizations offer valuable resources and support, including educational materials, therapy options, and peer networks:

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): Offers resources, support groups, and advocacy for people with schizophrenia and their families. Visit their website.
Schizophrenia and Related Disorders Alliance of America (SARDAA): Provides support for those affected by schizophrenia. Learn more on their website.
Psychiatric Services: Many hospitals and health services provide psychiatric care for those living with schizophrenia. Contact your local provider for more information.

These organizations can help guide families and individuals through the challenges of living with schizophrenia, ensuring that those affected have the resources to thrive.

Conclusion: A New Era of Understanding Schizophrenia

This groundbreaking study is a significant step toward understanding why people with schizophrenia hear voices and how we can treat the condition more effectively. The discovery that auditory hallucinations are tied to an impairment in motor-to-sensory signals in the brain gives researchers a new avenue for developing targeted treatments. By better understanding the neural processes behind these hallucinations, scientists can improve the overall treatment of schizophrenia and enhance the lives of those affected by the disorder.

While there’s still much to learn, the findings from this study are encouraging and represent a leap forward in schizophrenia research. By continuing to investigate these brain mechanisms, we may one day be able to help millions of people live healthier, happier lives free from the burden of hallucinations. The future looks bright as researchers continue to unlock the mysteries of the human brain.

Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Image