NUST Institutions Library Catalogue

Schizophrenia is a serious neuropsychiatric condition that affects cognition, perception, and
behavior. Current pharmacological treatments are successful in treating symptoms but can have
serious adverse effects, especially in susceptible populations such as children and the elderly.
These negative consequences, which range from metabolic problems to cognitive impairment,
underline the critical need for alternate, non-invasive therapeutic techniques. One promising
approach is neuromodulation by gamma entrainment with sensory stimulation, which uses an
external stimulus to restore broken neuronal synchronization. This study looks at the combined
effects of Clozapine and light flicker therapy in a ketamine-induced schizophrenia mouse model,
with the hypothesis that their synergistic action will lead to improved recovery. Mice were
classified into five groups: control, diseased, Clozapine-treated, light flicker-treated, and
combination therapy. Behavioral examinations, such as the open field test, elevated plus maze,
forced swim test, tail suspension test, novel object recognition, and Y-maze, demonstrated that
combination therapy improved cognitive and affective deficiencies the most significantly.
Histological analysis with hematoxylin and eosin staining of the cortex and hippocampus (CA1
and CA3) revealed severe neuronal disorganization in the diseased group, partial restoration in
the individual treatment groups, and near-control level preservation in the combination therapy
group. RT-PCR analysis using Pvalb and BDNF primers indicated abnormalities in PV
interneurons and neuroplasticity markers, which corroborated the histological and behavioral
findings. Our approach to schizophrenia combines neuroscience and psychology. Restoring
gamma oscillations with light flicker improves PV interneuron function, BDNF production, and
cognitive stability. This neuronal synchronization minimizes ego fragmentation, improves self perception, and promotes cognitive integration for a more comprehensive treatment.