Biological - Dopamine Hypothesis

• What are the three possible causes of schizophrenia according to the Biological Approach?


  Genetic explanations, the dopamine hypothesis, and neural correlates
• How does dopamine influence the symptoms of schizophrenia?

  Excessive dopamine can lead to positive symptoms like delusions and hallucinations
• What did Snyder (1976) discover about dopamine and schizophrenia?


  Too much dopamine release can lead to the onset of schizophrenia
• What effect do antipsychotic drugs have on dopamine activity?


  They lessen dopamine activity and reduce symptoms of schizophrenia
• What was Davis's (1991) challenge to the dopamine hypothesis?

  High levels of dopamine are not found in all schizophrenia cases
• What are the mesolimbic and mesocortical pathways associated with in schizophrenia?

  Mesolimbic is associated with positive symptoms, while mesocortical is linked to negative symptoms
• What is hyperdopaminergia and where is it found in the brain?

  Hyperdopaminergia refers to excess dopamine found in the limbic area of the brain
• What is hypodopaminergia and its role in schizophrenia?

  Hypodopaminergia refers to low levels of dopamine in the prefrontal cortex, linked to negative symptoms
• What functions does the prefrontal cortex contribute to?


  It is responsible for thinking, decision making, and personality development