Novel Computational Neuropsychiatry Model for Understanding Psychosis: Tonic–Phasic Dopamine Biregulation
Evangelos-Konstantinos Georgantas
Open Mind March 5, 2026 preprint DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18874639 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Tonic physiology Dopaminergic Psychosis Salience neuroscience Stimulus psychology Neurotransmitter Reward system Incentive salience |
| Key points | Proposes that psychosis can be modeled as a dynamical instability in dopaminergic regulation, arising from an imbalance between tonic dopamine baseline and phasic dopamine responses to stimuli within a closed feedback loop involving attentional reinforcement. Argues this framework contrasts with conventional descriptions of dopaminergic dysfunction as a static excess of dopamine signaling. |
Abstract
Computational Neuropsychiatry Model of Psychosis via Tonic–Phasic Dopamine Biregulation This work introduces a computational psychiatry framework describing psychosis as a dynamical instability in dopaminergic regulation. The model formalizes the interaction between tonic dopamine baseline, phasic dopamine responses to environmental stimuli, and attentional reinforcement within a closed feedback loop. Conventional descriptions of psychosis frequently interpret dopaminergic dysfunction as a static excess of dopamine signaling. In contrast, the present framework models psychosis as a regulatory imbalance between tonic dopamine baseline and phasic dopamine responses to stimuli.