Biological theory of schizophrenia

    Cards (7)

    • What is the biological theory of schizophrenia primarily focused on?
      The dopamine hypothesis
    • What does the dopamine hypothesis propose about schizophrenia?
      High levels of dopamine in synapses or too many receptors cause excessive activity in individuals
    • What is a neurotransmitter?
      A chemical messenger that transmits signals across synapses in the brain
    • What are the key brain structure dysfunctions associated with schizophrenia?
      • Less blood flow to the frontal lobe
      • Defective decision-making in the prefrontal cortex (PFC)
      • Smaller temporal lobe affecting language
      • Smaller hippocampus impacting memory
    • What is a criticism of the biological theory of schizophrenia regarding its approach?
      It is reductionist and deterministic
    • What does the criticism of "no cause and effect" imply about the biological theory of schizophrenia?
      It suggests that the theory does not establish a direct causal relationship between dopamine levels and schizophrenia
    • What aspect does the biological theory of schizophrenia ignore according to its critics?
      It ignores the role of nurture in the development of schizophrenia