biological explanations - neural correlates ao3

Question 1

high reliability

Answer 1

• research into enlarged ventricles and neurotransmitter levels gave high reliability
• controlled environments, specialist equipment MRI and PET scans
• machines take accurate results of brain regions
• research can be re tested and the same results will be achieved

Question 2

biologically deterministic

Answer 2

• if an individual does have large ventricles then does it really mean that they will develop schizophrenia?
• This suggests that the dopamine hypothesis does not account for freewill.

Question 3

empirical support Suddath et al 1990

Answer 3

• MRI = pictures of the brain structure of MZ twins in which one twin was schizophrenic.
• schizophrenic twin = more enlarged ventricles and a reduced anterior hypothalamus.
• The differences were so large the schizophrenic twins could be easily identified from the brain images in 12 out of 15 pairs. - wider credibility for enlarged ventricles determining the likelihood of schizophrenia developing.