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.

Source: ET Healthworld - April 29,2026