Brain structure 20 Flashcards
What mental health condition is associated with changes in brain structure and functioning?
Schizophrenia
Symptoms may include hallucinations and confused thinking.
Which regions of the brain are involved in working memory and declarative memory in schizophrenia?
Prefrontal and medial temporal regions
Who suggested that positive symptoms of schizophrenia may be explained by neurotransmitters?
Crow (1985)
What is suggested to be more related to brain structure in schizophrenia?
Negative symptoms
What cognitive dysfunctions may arise from reduced grey matter in the prefrontal cortex of schizophrenics?
- Poor working memory
- Poor processing of language
What is one possible reason for delusions in schizophrenia?
Reduced metabolic rates in the prefrontal cortex
What hypothesis suggests that factors during pregnancy can cause brain lesions leading to schizophrenia?
Neurodevelopmental hypothesis
What is the relationship between ventricular size and schizophrenia?
25% of schizophrenic individuals have enlarged ventricles, 15% larger than non-schizophrenics
Which study reviewed almost 50 studies finding abnormally large lateral ventricles in schizophrenia patients?
Pahl, Swayze, and Andreasen (1999)
What does MRI technology allow researchers to do in studying schizophrenia?
Acquiring brain images repeatedly in awake subjects
What is the original function of the basal ganglia?
Motor functioning
What is suggested to be the cause of the lack of activation of the basal ganglia in schizophrenia?
Decreased connectivity with the prefrontal cortex
What are the most consistent findings in MRI studies of schizophrenia?
Reduced grey matter volumes in medio-temporal, superior temporal, and prefrontal areas
What condition can occur when a fetus is deprived of an adequate oxygen supply?
Foetal hypoxia
What does the diathesis stress model suggest about schizophrenia?
Individuals may be predisposed to brain dysfunction, but it requires environmental interaction to develop
True or False: MRI scans are used as diagnostic tools for schizophrenia.
False
What percentage of schizophrenic individuals have enlarged ventricles?
25%
Fill in the blank: Dopamine activity peaks in ________ which may set the stage for the onset of schizophrenia symptoms.
adolescence
What can the findings on brain structure in schizophrenia aid doctors in?
Analysing the brain with brain scans or X-Rays
What is a limitation of the biological explanation of schizophrenia?
It ignores psychological/environmental factors
What is the relationship between exposure to influenza during pregnancy and schizophrenia rates?
Positive correlation, especially during the second trimester
What did the study by Battle et al reveal about the correlation between illnesses during gestation and schizophrenia?
No correlation between incidence of schizophrenia and prevalence of measles or flu
What is one implication of understanding brain structure in schizophrenia?
Potential development of drugs to prevent onset of symptoms
What might larger volumes of basal ganglia in schizophrenia individuals correlate with?
Motor dysfunctions
