Dopamine Hypothesis

• Original DH - Hyperdopaminergia - subcortex

  • excess dopamine in Broca's area
  • involved in language production
  • poverty of speech and/or auditory hallucinations
  • suggest that there is high levels of dopamine in the sub cortex
• More recent DH - Hypodopaminergia - in the cortex

  • low levels of dopamine in the prefrontal cortex correlate with negative symptoms like avolition
• Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that has an excitatory effect and is associated with the sensation of pleasure