evaluation correlates

• One strength of research into neural correlates of schizophrenia is the supporting evidence from brain imaging studies. For example, Allen et al. (2007) used fMRI scans to compare brain activity in individuals with schizophrenia experiencing auditory hallucinations and a control group. They found that schizophrenic patients showed lower activation in the superior temporal gyrus and anterior cingulate gyrus, regions associated with speech processing. This suggests that structural and functional abnormalities in specific brain areas contribute to the positive symptoms of schizophrenia.
• Such findings increase the scientific credibility of neural explanations, as they provide objective, biological evidence rather than relying on self-report measures. However, while these studies establish a correlation, they do not prove causation. It remains unclear whether brain abnormalities cause schizophrenia or if the disorder itself leads to these neural changes.
• A key limitation of neural correlates as an explanation for schizophrenia is that they may not be the sole cause of the disorder. Research has shown that environmental factors, such as family dysfunction and high levels of stress, can also trigger or exacerbate symptoms. Additionally, the dopamine hypothesis suggests that neurotransmitter imbalances, rather than just structural abnormalities, play a significant role in schizophrenia.
• This highlights the reductionist nature of neural correlates, as they oversimplify the complexity of the disorder by focusing only on biological factors. A more comprehensive approach, such as the diathesis-stress model, which considers both genetic vulnerability and environmental triggers, may provide a more accurate explanation. Therefore, while neural correlates contribute valuable insights, they should be considered alongside other explanations to fully understand schizophrenia.
• • Additionally with correlational data we cannot be sure of cause and effect. It may well be that schizophrenia causes these abnormalities in the brain and this is actually an effect of the disorder rather than a cause. Consideration must also be given to environmental factors in causing brain abnormalities such as substance abuse and stress levels which may damage brain tissue.
• Additionally, focusing solely on biological factors like neural correlates ignores psychological and environmental explanations, such as dysfunctional family communication, childhood trauma, or cognitive distortions. This creates an environmental reductionism issue, where complex social and psychological contributors to schizophrenia are underemphasized or dismissed. It also raises ethical concerns—if schizophrenia is seen as purely biologically determined, it could lead to labeling and stigma, reducing individuals to their brain abnormalities and potentially overlooking their capacity for recovery and personal agency.
• One strength of neural correlations as an explanation for schizophrenia is the strong scientific credibility and objectivity provided by brain imaging techniques such as fMRI and PET scans. These technologies have consistently shown differences in the brain structures and functions of people with schizophrenia compared to neurotypical individuals—for example, enlarged ventricles, reduced activity in the prefrontal cortex, and abnormal dopamine functioning. This gives the theory a solid empirical basis, supporting the idea that schizophrenia has a biological origin.