Bio (genetic + Dopamine) Explanations For Schiz

Question 1

Family studies

Answer 1

Have established that schiz is more common among biological relatives of a person with schiz + that closer reg degree of genetic relatedness, the greater the chance.

Question 2

Adoption studies

Answer 2

Due to difficulty of disentangling genetic + environmental influences for individuals who share genes + environment, studies of genetically related individuals who have been raised apart have been used

Question 3

Evidence (study) support for genetic ex adoption

Answer 3

Tienari et al
Found kid of schiz sufferers were still at heightened risk of schiz if adopted into families with no history of schiz

-implies even if kids r in different environment due to genetic makeup will still have high chance of developing schiz
- stronger nature influence over nurture one

Question 4

Evidence (study to refute) genetic ex

Answer 4

Joseph et al
Pointed out mz twins r treated more similarly sim environment as experience mire identity confusion over dz twins
Implies environment plays a role - genetics disregards this

Question 5

Evidence to support genetic (study) family
However point

Answer 5

Gotessman + shields
Found closer genetic relation the greater chance if one is diagnosed that the other will have it too.
Suggests genetic influence

Also found that environmental triggers may also be needed to actually start development of disorder.
Diathesis stress model + refutes genetic ex as suggest nurture app

reviewed 40 studies that had investigated family history of schiz
Identical twins share 100% genes + 48% of developing schiz
Parents shares 50 + 6% of developing schiz
Nephews/nieces shares 25 and has 4% of developing schiz
First cousins shares 12.5 and has 2% developing schiz

Question 6

What is dopamine?

Answer 6

Neurotransmitter (chemical messenger) that has an excitatory effect

Question 7

What does the dopamine hyp claim?

Answer 7

An excess of neurotransmitters (hyperdomanergia) in the sub cortex of the brain is associated with with positive symptoms of schizophrenia

-Schizophrenics are thought to have abnormally high numbers of D₂ receptors on receiving neurons,
-resulting in more dopamine binding and therefore more neurons firing

Question 8

What area of the brain is involved in speech and language

Answer 8

Brocas area

Question 9

What symptoms would be connected to excess of dopamine receptors in broacs area (clue:pos)

Answer 9

Hallucinations and delusions

Question 10

Hypodopaminergia

Answer 10

When negative symptoms of schiz r thought to arise from a deficit of dopamine in area of pre-frontal cortex

Question 11

What part of the brain is responsible foe thinking + decision making

Answer 11

Pre-frontal cortex

Question 12

What symptoms r associated with hypodopaminergia (clue: neg)

Answer 12

Alogia - speech poverty
Avolutiton - inability to do anything

Question 13

What can we conclude about dopamine?

Answer 13

It’s important in functioning of several brain systems that may be implicated in symptoms of schiz

Question 14

What are the 2 dopamine pathways?

Answer 14

Mesolimbic and mesocortial

Question 15

What is the mesolimbic pathway?

Answer 15

Reward pathway in the brain

Question 16

What is the mesocortial pathway?

Answer 16

Thought to be important in wide range of functions (motivation/emotion/exclusive functions)

Question 17

What did Davis + khan suggest?

Answer 17

the positive symptoms of schizophrenia are caused by an excess of dopamine in subcortical areas of the brain (mesolimbic pathway)

The negative and cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia are thought to arise from a deficit of dopamine in areas of the prefrontal cortex (mesocortical pathway)