Schizophrenia: Biological explanations

Question 1

Outline Biological explanations of schizophrenia:

Answer 1

• Genetics
• Dopamine hypothesis
• Neural Correlates

Question 2

Outline Biological explanations of schizophrenia:

Answer 2

• Genetics
• Dopamine hypothesis
• Neural Correlates

Question 3

Outline Biological explanations of schizophrenia:

- Genetics

Answer 3

twin/adoption/family studies used to compare concordance rates
Allows it to study effects of nature and nurture
candidate genes and polygenic
108 different combinations increased likelihood

Question 4

Outline Biological explanations of schizophrenia:

- Dopamine Hypothesis

Answer 4

dopamine = neurotransmitter responsible for feelings

• Original hypothesis:
  increased dopamine in sub cortex explained speech poverty and auditory hallucinations
• New hypothesis:
  increased dopamine in prefrontal cortex (responsible for decision making) leads to avolition

Question 5

Outline Biological explanations of schizophrenia:

- Neural Correlates

Answer 5

Measures of structure or function of the brain that correlate with an experience

• Abnormality in Ventral Stratum
  decreased activity in this area leads to abolition as this area responsible for motivation
• Abnormality in superior temporal gyrus and Anterior Cingulate
  deceased activity linked with auditory hallucinations

Question 6

Evaluation of biological explanaions

Answer 6

+ support genetics gottesman MZ twins 48% DZ 17%
+ support dopamine curran increased dopamine increased schizophrenia
- other neurotransmitters involved, not just dopamine
- Neural correlations causation argument

Question 7

Outline Biological explanations of schizophrenia:

- Genetics

Answer 7

twin/adoption/family studies used to compare concordance rates
Allows it to study effects of nature and nurture
candidate genes and polygenic
108 different combinations increased likelihood

Question 8

Outline Biological explanations of schizophrenia:

- Dopamine Hypothesis

Answer 8

dopamine = neurotransmitter responsible for feelings

• Original hypothesis:
  increased dopamine in sub cortex explained speech poverty and auditory hallucinations
• New hypothesis:
  increased dopamine in prefrontal cortex (responsible for decision making) leads to avolition

Question 9

Outline Biological explanations of schizophrenia:

- Neural Correlates

Answer 9

Measures of structure or function of the brain that correlate with an experience

• Abnormality in Ventral Stratum
  decreased activity in this area leads to abolition as this area responsible for motivation
• Abnormality in superior temporal gyrus and Anterior Cingulate
  deceased activity linked with auditory hallucinations

Question 10

Evaluation of biological explanaions

Answer 10

+ support genetics gottesman MZ twins 48% DZ 17%
+ support dopamine curran increased dopamine increased schizophrenia
- other neurotransmitters involved, not just dopamine
- Neural correlations causation argument