Schizophrenia - Dopamine hypothesis (GREY)

Question 1

What is dopamine?

Answer 1

A neurotransmitter and there are many dopamine pathways in the brain which together are responsible for:

• Pleasurable reward and motivation
• Behaviour and cognition
• Attention
• Movement

Question 2

What is the dopamine hypothesis?

Answer 2

• The idea that dopamine activity is responsible for symptoms of schizophrenia.
• As dopamine neurons are instrumental in regulating attention, it is theorised that if this process is disturbed it may lead to problems with attention, perception and thought.

Question 3

How does the dopamine hypothesis explain positive symptoms?

Answer 3

High levels of dopamine in some areas of the brain may explain positive symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions.

Question 4

How does the dopamine hypothesis explain negative symptoms?

Answer 4

Low levels of dopamine in other areas of the brain explain the negative symptoms such as avolition.