Biological explanations of schizophrenia

• What is the genetic explanation for schizophrenia?

  It assumes schizophrenia is biologically inherited and results from a predetermined process.
• What do high levels of D2 receptors on postsynaptic neurons indicate in relation to schizophrenia?

  They suggest an increased binding of dopamine, potentially leading to symptoms.
• How does the genetic aspect of schizophrenia affect sufferers' feelings when diagnosed?

  It potentially makes sufferers feel disempowered when diagnosed.
• What does the polygenetic theory of schizophrenia suggest?

  It suggests that combinations of different genes can lead to the condition.
• What did Gottesman (1991) find in his large-scale family study regarding MZ twins?

  He found a concordance rate of 48% for schizophrenia in MZ twins.
• What is the revised dopamine hypothesis proposed by Davis and Khan?

  It suggests that symptoms are caused by higher levels of dopamine activity in the subcortex.
• What is a limitation of the reductionist approach to understanding schizophrenia?

  It fails to consider psychological aspects such as expressed emotion that influence development.
• What does a holistic explanation of schizophrenia consider?

  A holistic explanation considers the distress stress model in which both genetic and environmental factors in the disorder's development.
• What is the general population risk of developing schizophrenia?

  1%
• What neural correlates are associated with auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia?

  Lower activation levels in the superior temporal gyrus and anterior cingulate gyrus.
• What does the dopamine hypothesis suggest about schizophrenia symptoms?

  It suggests that symptoms are associated with an imbalance of the dopamine neurotransmitter.
• What is dopamine's role as a neurotransmitter?

  Dopamine has an excitatory effect.
• What is the ventral striatum associated with in schizophrenia?

  It is thought to be involved in the anticipation of reward.
• What did Juckel et al. find regarding motivation in schizophrenia?

  They found a negative correlation between motivation and symptoms.
• What symptoms are associated with schizophrenia?

  Hallucinations and delusions.
• What does the diathesis-stress model suggest about schizophrenia?

  It suggests that a biological weakness combined with environmental stress triggers the disorder.
• How is excess dopamine in Broca's area linked to schizophrenia?

  It is linked to speech poverty in individuals with schizophrenia.
• What is observed in the prefrontal cortex of individuals with schizophrenia?

  They have lower levels of dopamine.