Symmetry Breaking in Cognitive Disorders

In this chapter we discuss the effect of symmetry breaking and the emergence of brain/psychiatric disorders such as Alzheimer disease (AD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), schizophrenia (SCZ), aging, and drug addiction. A common denominator in these brain disorders seems to be a faulty inhibition mechanism that plays a key role in the optimal functioning of neuronal microcircuits, loops and networks. When inhibition becomes suboptimal a transition from healthy mental states to pathological states starts to occur. A perspective that views mental disorders from the standpoint of symmetrical probability distributions may offer a paradigmatic shift for both diagnosis and therapeutical interventions.