Biological explanation: Neural Correlates Flashcards
1
Q
What is the main and most influential neurotransmitter?
A
Dopamine
2
Q
What is the original dopamine hypothesis?
A
That high levels of dopamine, hyperdopiminergia, in subcortical areas of the brain result in SZ.
3
Q
What may a high level of dopamine in the Broca’s area explain?
A
Certain symptoms such as speech poverty or auditory hallucinations.
4
Q
What has been suggested in the updated hypothesis?
A
That corticol hypodopaminergia leads to subcorticol hyperdopaminergia.
5
Q
What is the updated dopamine hypothesis?
A
That hypodopiminergia, low levels of dopamine, can explain SZ.
6
Q
What is one strength for the neural explanation? - Support for dopamine.
A
- Evidence from the effects of drugs.
- Increasing dopamine, worsens symptoms or induces them in people without SZ.
- Decreasing dopamine, reduces the intensity of symptoms.
- Suggests it is involved.
7
Q
What is a limitation of this explanation? - Evidence for a more central role of glutamate.
A
- Post-mortems and brain scanning has shown raised levels of glutamate in brain regions of people with SZ.
- Candidate genes have also been identified as likely to be involved in glutamate production.
- There may be an equally strong case for other neurotransmitters being involved.
