Bio Ex - Neural Corrletes Flashcards
Neural correlates
Changes in neuronal mechanisms that occur in conjunction with symptoms of schizophrenia
Useful to help us understand specific brain systems that aren’t working normally
A01 points
Meaning
Usefulness
Prefrontal cortex
Enlarged ventricles
Ventral striatum
Pre frontal cortex
-main area of brain involved in executive control (planing, reasoning, judgement)
-research has found reduced myelination of white matter pathways in schizophrenic patients
-mainly in neural pathways between pre frontal cortex and hippocampus
Enlarged ventricles
Research = many schizophrenics have enlarges ventricles (cavities in brain that supply nutrients + remove waste)
Ventricles are 15% bigger than normal in normal person (Torrey)
People with schizophrenia who have enlarged ventricles tend to display negative rather than positive symptoms + poorer response to antipsychotics
Ventral striatum
Believed to be one of the regions of brain involved in anticipation of rewards
Abnormality of this area may be involved in development of avolition (loss of motivation to carry out tasks)
Pre-frontal cortex a03
Meyer-lindenberg et al - examined brain activity of schizophrenics during mem task
-prefrontal cortex showed reduced activation reflecting poor performance.
Moreover also showed elevated dopamine levels
Supports neural correlate as bio extortion schizophrenia
However
No stats so may not be strongest evidence to use
Enlarged ventricles a03
Johnstone et al - ct/cat scans to examine institutionalised schizophrenics (17) in comparison to same age non schizophrenics
Found enlargement in ventricles was common in schizophrenics
Enlargement was most sever inpatients with severe symptoms
Ventral striatum a03
Juckel et al - measured activity levels in ventral striatum in schiz
+ found lower levels of activity than those observed in controls.
Observed neg correlation between activity levels in the ventral striatum + negative symptoms.
Supports ventral s as nc and valid ex
