Lesson 5: Biological explanations for schizophrenia: Neural correlates including the dopamine hypothesis

Question 1

What is dopamine?

Answer 1

Dopamine- neurotransmitter- ⬆️ firing 🔥 of neurons (excitation)-> ⬆️ motivation and pleasure

Question 2

What are the assumptions of the dopamine hypothesis?

Answer 2

1) Schizophrenia sufferers have ⬆️ dopamine receptors (D1 and D2) in the 🧠 (over sensitive)-> ⬆️ in dopamine
2) Anti-psychotic drugs can block 🛑 activity in dopamine receptors in 🧠 - minimise ➕ symptoms (BUT ✖️ ➖ symptoms)
3) L-dopa (drug) ⬆️ dopamine levels for ppl with ⬇️ levels of dopamine (Parkinson Disease sufferers) BUT side effect = schizophrenic symptoms (⬆️ dopamine causes schizophrenia)

Question 3

What is the problem with too much dopamine?

Answer 3

May-> schizophrenic symptoms (delusions and hallucinations etc)

Question 4

What is the problem with too little dopamine?

Answer 4

May-> Parkinson’s disease symptoms (limb tremors and shaking)

Question 5

Give an example of an anti-psychotic drug

Answer 5

Phenothiazine

Question 6

What do anti-psychotic drugs to in terms of dopamine?

Answer 6

Block 🛑 dopamine at synapses in 🧠- ➕ symptoms of schizophrenia seem to ⬇️ (hallucinations and delusions)
BUT ➖ symptoms of schizophrenia seem to remain