Neurotransmitter Exp of SZ

Question 1

What are neurotransmitters?

Answer 1

• Chemical messegers released by neurons allowing them to communitate with each other in the brain called synpatic transmission

Question 2

What are the key roles of Dopamine?

Answer 2

• regulates mood
• attention
• movement
• learning (reward system)
• memory

Question 3

What are the assumptions of dopamine in SZ?

Answer 3

SZ is caused by excess dopamine activity (hyperdopaminergia)
This is due to:
- smaller amounts of beta hydroxylaze eznymes breaking down dopamine leading to irregularity and build-up of excess dopmaine in the synapses
- large amounts of D2 receptors in the brain therfore more dopamine diffuses across the synapes

Question 4

How does the symptoms of SZ related to the neurotrasmitter dopamine?

Answer 4

Causes of negative symptoms
- low activity of dopamine (hypodopamindergia) in the mesocortical pathway

Causes of positive symptoms
- high activity of dopamine (hyperdopaminergia) in the mesolimbic pathway

Question 5

How does serotonin affect dopamine?

Answer 5

• Serotonin regulates dopamine
• if there is excess serotonin there will be excess dopamien
• if there’s irrgularity in serotonin it can cause negative symptoms