Revisiting Neurological Disorders Through the Lens of Excitation–Inhibition Balance

Abstract

The balance between excitation and inhibition (E/I balance) is a core principle of neural computation and stability. This paper reexamines neurological and psychiatric disorders through the lens of E/I homeostasis, proposing that disruptions in this equilibrium form a shared mechanism underlying diverse clinical manifestations. Integrating evidence from molecular neuroscience, circuit physiology, and computational modeling, the study outlines how synaptic scaling, inhibitory plasticity, and intrinsic excitability sustain neural stability across temporal and spatial scales. Disorders such as autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia, and epilepsy are interpreted as distinct outcomes of imbalance within this system, shaped by genetic and environmental convergence. Clinically, altered E/I ratios manifest as cognitive, perceptual, and affective dysfunctions driven by disordered oscillatory coordination. The therapeutic section highlights approaches aimed at restoring balance—ranging from modulation of glutamatergic and GABAergic signaling to non-invasive brain stimulation and neurofeedback training. Conceptually, this framework unifies psychiatric and neurological research within a single systems-level model, viewing mental health as the capacity of neural networks to maintain adaptive equilibrium between excitation and inhibition.