Schizophrenia: Biological explanations for Sz

Question 1

What does the genetic explanation state Sz is?

Answer 1

Hereditary and passed on from one generation to the next through genes

Question 2

According to the genetic explanation, what is a person born with?

Answer 2

A genetic predisposition to developing Sz

Question 3

According to the genetic explanation, explain the genes?

Answer 3

Several maladaptive ‘candidate’ gene like PCM1 are involved which increases an individual’s vulnerability to developing Sz.

Question 4

With regards to the genetic explanation, what have studies shown?

Answer 4

108 separate genetic variations are associated in the risk of developing Sz

Question 5

Describe Gottesman

Answer 5

Studies 40 twins
Found a concordance rate for MZ was 48% and DZ was 17%
Closer the genetic link, the more chance of developing Sz

Question 6

What is the RTS for genetic explanation?

Answer 6

RTS from Tierney

Question 7

What did Tierney do?

Answer 7

Studied 155 adoptoed children who had biological mothers with Sz and found they had a concordance rate of 10% compared to the 1% adopted children without Sz parents

Question 8

What is the link for Tierney?

Answer 8

Provides significant support for the role of genetics as an explanation of Sz as the role of SLT couldn’t have been a factor as the children were adopted

Question 9

What are neural correlates?

Answer 9

Abnormalities within specific brain areas may be associated with the development of Sz

Question 10

How are neural correlates identified?

Answer 10

fMRI scans

Question 11

What is one neural correlate?

Answer 11

Enlarged ventricles

Question 12

Describe the study on neural correlates?

Answer 12

A meta analysis by Raz and Raz found that over half of individuals tested with Sz had increased ventricle size comapred to the contorl group
Enlarged ventricles are associated with damage to the central braina areas and the pre-frontal cortex, this damage is associated with negative symptoms of Sz.

Question 13

Who researched neural correlates?

Answer 13

Suddath et al

Question 14

What did Suddath et al do?

Answer 14

Used MRI scans to investigate the brain structure of MZ twins, one twin had Sz

Question 15

What did Suddath et al find?

Answer 15

Sz twin had more enlarged ventricles

Question 16

What is the link for Suddath et al?

Answer 16

Enlarged ventricles do play a role in determining the likelihood of Sz developing

Question 17

What are dopamine hypothesis?

Answer 17

The brains chemical messengers work differently in the brain of a patient with Sz
Dopamine (DA) is widely believed to be involved as individuals with Sz may release too much dopamine or have large amounts of D2 receptors on the post synaptic neuron

Question 18

What is Hyperdopaminergia in the subcortex?

Answer 18

High dopamine activity in cetnral areas of brain like Broca’s area may be associated with auditory hallucinations

Question 19

What is Hypodopamnergia in the cortex?

Answer 19

Low dopamine activity in the pre-frontal cortex may have been associated with negative symptoms of Sz like avolition

Question 20

What are AO3 points for biological explanations for Sz?

Answer 20

Scientific methods
Biological determinism
Practical applications