Schizophrenia (Structural Abnormalities) Flashcards
What was the initial treatment approach for schizophrenia in early psychology?
Psychological treatments
What method did psychologists first use to study the brains of schizophrenics?
Post mortems
What are the two main hypotheses regarding the cause of brain changes in schizophrenia?
Neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental
In neurodevelopmental illness, what factors contribute to improper brain development?
- Genes
- Prenatal development
- Events in childhood
What is expected in neurodegenerative illnesses regarding brain changes?
Few brain changes at the start, with progressive worsening over time
What structural difference is observed in the brains of schizophrenics compared to controls?
Larger brain ventricles
What study compared ventricle sizes in chronic schizophrenics and controls?
Weinberger et al (1979)
What percentage of schizophrenics were found outside the control group’s range in ventricle size?
40%
What does cortical atrophy refer to?
Loss of neurons in the brain
What did Vita et al (1988) find regarding brain atrophy in schizophrenics?
33% of schizophrenics had atrophy
What might cause the reduction in brain volume in schizophrenia according to Feinburg (1982)?
Reduction in connections between neurons
What is reversed cerebral asymmetry in the context of schizophrenia?
The right hemisphere is larger than the left
What did Luchins et al (1979) find regarding the asymmetry of the brain in schizophrenics?
Increased frequency of reversals in both the frontal and occipital lobes
Which area of the brain is responsible for facial recognition and is often damaged in schizophrenia?
Temporal lobe structures
What did Jibiki (1991) find regarding visual processing in schizophrenics?
Disruptions to visual processes in the occipital lobe
