Lesson 5 - biological explanations for skiz- neural correlates

Question 1

what is dopamine

Answer 1

neurotransmitter that increases excitation and pleasure

Question 2

assumptions of the dopamine hypothesis

Answer 2

• skiz p have more dopamine receptors in the brain
• anti-psychotic drugs can block dopamine and reduce positive symptoms
• L-dopa increases dopamine levels for those w low dopamine(side effect is skiz)

Question 3

phenothiazine

Answer 3

blocks dopamine at the synapses and reduces positive but NOT negative symptoms

Question 4

what facts was the dopamine hypothesis based on

Answer 4

1) post mortem studies show increased amt of dop in left amyglyda
2)skiz P have issues making glutamate(excitatory neurotransmitter)

Question 5

strength of dopamine hypothesis

Answer 5

+ skiz P given L dopa and symptoms intensified
+lots of scientific evidence , research from PET scans and MRIs which are reliable

Question 6

weaknesses of dopamine hypothesis

Answer 6

w- cause and effect is not clear- is it that increase in dop causes skiz or opposite
w- dop is not the only neurotrans associated with skiz, may be associated with many illnesses, not just skiz

Question 7

neural correlates

Answer 7

skiz might develop due to structural and functional brain abnormalities
can be tested by fMRI

Question 8

swayze study

Answer 8

50 skiz P had brain exam
results: decreased brain weight
enlarged ventricles
smaller hypothalamus
less grey matter

Question 9

strength of neural correlates

Answer 9

+ lots of supporting evidence (jackal- structure causes skiz)
+ strong evidence that skiz caused by pre natal abornmal development