Schizophrenia: Biological Explanations of Schizophrenia - 24/25 UPDATED

Question 1

What does the biological explanation assume about SZ?

Answer 1

That SZ is hereditary and passed on from one generation to the next through genes.

Question 2

What are our genes?

Answer 2

genetic material that make up who we are

Question 3

What is meant by genetic predisposition?

Answer 3

based on our genetic material, the likelihood of developing a disorder (natural risk to developing a disorder)

Question 4

What is the term used to describe the likelihood of developing a disorder from our genes?

Answer 4

genetic predisposition

Question 5

If we have a genetic disposition to Sz what does that mean?

Answer 5

We have the genetic material that may make us more likely to develop SZ.

Question 6

What kind of genes may someone with SZ develop/inherit?

Answer 6

Several maladaptive candidate genes such as PCM1 (polygenic).

Question 7

Sz is polygenic meaning that there are multiple genes involved in the development of Sz, What do we call these genes

Answer 7

Maladaptive Candidate genes

Question 8

give an example of a maladaptive candidate gene involved in Sz

Answer 8

PCM1

Question 9

If Sz is polygenic, what does that mean for an individuals vulnerability?

Answer 9

it increases an individuals vulnerability to developing the disorder.

Question 10

What have studies shown about the genetic variations for Sz?

Answer 10

there are 108 separate genetic variations

Question 11

What is meant by a concordance rate?

Answer 11

The probability of developing a disorder if the other person has it (likelihood of sharing a characteristic).

Question 12

What was the concordance rate found by Gottesman in MZ and DZ twins?

Answer 12

Mz: 48%
Dz: 17%

Question 13

What does the differences between the Mz and DZ concordance rate show us about the genetic link in SZ?

Answer 13

Closer the genetic link, the higher the probability of developing SZ.

Question 14

What is meant by an MZ twin?

Answer 14

monozygotic: they share 100% of their genetic information (identical twins)

Question 15

What is meant by an DZ twin?

Answer 15

Dizygotic: they share 50% of their genetic information (non-identical twins)

Question 16

Research to support the role of genetics in the development of SZ comes from Tierney. What did he study?

Answer 16

155 adopted children who had biological mothers with SZ

Question 17

Research to support the role of genetics in the development of SZ comes from Tierney. What was found?

Answer 17

He found that those with a biological mother with SZ has a concordance rate of 10% compared to 1% in adopted children without SZ parents.

Question 18

Why does Tierney’s research provide support for the role of genetics in SZ?

Answer 18

It provides support for the role of genetics as the role of Social Learning Theory (observing and imitating the behaviours of a schizophrenic parent) could not have been a factor as the children were adopted.

Question 19

What is meant by neural correlates?

Answer 19

Abnormalities in the structure and function of the brain

Question 20

What are abnormalities in structure and brain function also refered to as?

Answer 20

neural correlates

Question 21

Neural correlates as a biological explanation of SZ can be split into two subsections - which are?

Answer 21

Brain structure (anatomy) and Dopamine hypothesis (neurochemical).

Question 22

How are neural correlates identified?

Answer 22

through brain scans such as fMRI’s

Question 23

What brain abnormalities were shown in those with SZ?

Answer 23

Enlarged ventricles

Question 24

What is an enlarged ventricle?

Answer 24

fluid filled spaces in your brain

Question 25

In a meta analysis by Raz and Raz, What did they find in individuals with SZ in their brain

Answer 25

those with SZ had enlarged ventricles compared to the control group

Question 26

How are enlarged ventricles associated with SZ?

Answer 26

they are associated with damage to central brain areas and the pre frontal cortex

Question 27

Enlarged ventricles are associated with damage to central areas such as the pre-frontal cortex. This impacts Broca’s area. What is Broca’s area responsible for and what symptoms may arise if damaged?

Answer 27

Broca’s area is responsible for speech production. If damaged due to SZ - may lead to speech poverty (nonsense speech).

Question 28

Enlarged ventricles are damaging the central areas of the brain and the pre frontal cortex. What is the function of the pre-frontal cortex, and if damaged due to SZ, what symptoms may be shown?

Answer 28

Function of the pre-frontal cortex is to make rational and logical decisions. If damaged due to SZ, may lead to avolition.

Question 29

Research to support the role of neural correlates was conducted by Suddath et al (1990). What did he do?

Answer 29

He used MRI scans to investigate the brain structure of MZ twins in which one twin was schizophrenic.

Question 30

Suddath et al use MRI scans to investigate the brain structure of MZ twins in which one twin was Schizophrenic. What did they find?

Answer 30

They found that the schizophrenic twin generally had more enlarged ventricles.

Question 31

What is the dopamine hypothesis?

Answer 31

The idea that neurotransmitters work differently in those with SZ, in particular dopamine activity levels.

Question 32

What is a neurotransmitter?

Answer 32

a chemical messenger in the brain

Question 33

How is dopamine involved in SZ?

Answer 33

either too much/too little dopamine activity in the brain

Question 34

What are the receptors in the brain called that process dopamine?

Answer 34

D2 receptors

Question 35

D2 receptors process what neurotransmitter?

Answer 35

Dopamine

Question 36

What is meant by HYPERdopaminergia?

Answer 36

increase in dopamine activity in central areas of the brain such as Broca’s area.

Question 37

What is meant by HYPOdopaminergia?

Answer 37

Low dopamine activity in the prefrontal cortex.

Question 38

What is the term for increased dopamine activity

Answer 38

Hyperdopaminergia

Question 39

What is the term for decreased dopamine activity

Answer 39

Hypodopaminergia

Question 40

What happens when there is increased dopamine activity in the subcortex of the brain?

Answer 40

High dopamine activity in central areas such as Broca’s is associated with auditory hallucinations

Question 41

Explain auditory halluncinations using the dopamine hypothesis

Answer 41

High dopamine activity in central areas of the brain such as Broca’s areas

Question 42

What happens when there is decreased dopamine activity in the cortex?

Answer 42

low dopamine activity in the prefrontal cortex is associated with avolition

Question 43

Explain avolition using the dopamine hypothesis

Answer 43

low dopamine activity in the prefrontal cortex is associated with avolition

Question 44

What is the term for high dopamine activity in the subcortex?

Answer 44

Subcortical hyperdopaminergia

Question 45

What is the term for low dopamine activity in the cortex

Answer 45

Cortical hypodopaminergia

Question 46

A/A* Stretch - How can the dopamine hypothesis explain the combination of positive and negative symptoms in Schizophrenics?

Answer 46

It has been suggested that cortical hypodopamingeria leads to subcortical hyperdopamingeria, showing both high and low activity levels of dopamine in different brain areas at the same time - which explains the combination of positive and negative symptoms.

Question 47

AO3: The biological explanation for Schizophrenia can be praised for using scientific methods - explain why.

Answer 47

The theory is based on objective and empirical techniques such as gene mapping and brain scans such as fMRI’s used to identify specific genes (PCM1) or areas of the brain linked to SZ (enlarged ventricles).

Question 48

AO3: The biological approach for SZ is praised for using scientific methods. Why is using scientific methods important in psychological research?

Answer 48

It increases the internal validity of the biological explanation of SZ and raises psychology’s scientific status.

Question 49

AO3: Why can the biological explanation of SZ be criticised for biological determinism? Refer to dopamine hypothesis.

Answer 49

This is because the theory states that an individual is controlled by internal factors such as high dopamine activity (hyperdopamingeria) in the subcortex which inevitably causes auditory hallucinations. This neglects the role of free will.

Question 50

AO3: What are the practical applications that have been developed from the biological explanation of SZ - how do they work?

Answer 50

Drug therapy such as typical and atypical antipsychotics - works by balancing the levels of dopamine activity in the patients brain and therefore reducing symptoms of SZ.