neural correlates : enlarged ventricles

• what are enlarged ventricles

  fluid filled gaps between brain areas that help keep the brain cushioned
• what is an example

  Johnstone et al, found that schizophrenics had enlarged ventricles while non-suffers didnt

  • this suggests that schizophrenia is related to a loss of grey matter (brain tissue)
  • enlarged ventricles are associated with damage to central brain areas and the prefrontal cortex
• what is the damage associated with

  negative symptoms
• weakness of this explanation

  research into the role of enlarged ventricles is inconclusive

  • been found that some non-schizophrenics have enlarged ventricles and not all schizophrenics have them
  • and because it suggests that its associated with only negative symptoms the explanation cannot explain all symptoms