by Tom Ray

The goal of mapping "receptor space" is to chart the relationships between complex alterations in chemical signaling, and resulting changes in mental states. These data are expected to provide an empirical basis for the development of an understanding of the chemistry of mind. To do this we need to understand what mental states are associated with various regions of the receptor space. We need to understand what kinds of interactions between transmitter systems and neural pathways result from chemical perturbations into various regions of receptors space.

This knowledge can help us to build a theoretical foundation for the rational design of drugs for the treatment of mental illness. In a loose sense, mental illnesses are also a kind of perturbation in receptor space. We need to determine what regions of receptor space are associated with these illnesses, and develop a pharmacology for these regions.

We do not yet understand why different individual members of this family (e.g., clozapine, risperidone, olanzapine, quetiapine, ziprasidone) are more effective in treating different individual patients. It is plausible that these differences in efficacy derive from the interactions of the different receptor binding profiles of the different antipsychotic drugs, with the specific characteristics of the disorders manifested by individual patients.

If we can develop a detailed knowledge of the relationship between chemical balance and mental state, methods for treating mental illness can be greatly improved. The atypical antipsychotics are some of the most effective drugs in treating the most difficult cases of schizophrenia. These drugs bind to a very large number of receptors, and therefore cause complex perturbations in "receptor space".

The understanding of the chemistry of consciousness is the ultimate goal of my research. By mapping receptor space we will be able to create a more rational basis for developing effective treatments of mental disorders. Please feel free to email me directly if you are interested in learning more about my research.