Neural Correlations AO3

• +Support for dopamine as symptom of schizophrenia. Amphetamines increase DA and so mimic symptoms (Curran). Antipsychotics reduce DA so reduce intensity of symptoms (Tauscher). Candidate genes act on the production of DA or DA receptors. This strongly suggests that dopamine is involved in the symptoms of schizophrenia.
• -Evidence for a central role of glutamate. Post mortem and scanning studies found raised glutamate in people with schizophrenia (McCutcheon). Several candidate genes for schizophrenia are believed to be involved in glutamate production or processing. Therefore a strong case can be made for a role for other neurotransmitters in schizophrenia.
• Amphetamine Psychosis

  Tenn induced schizophrenia-like symptoms in rats using amphetamines (raise DA) then relieved symptoms using drugs that reduce DA. Dépatie and Lal found apomorphine also increases DA but shows no symptoms. Garson argues that amphetamine psychosis isn’t the same as schizophrenia. This means that amphetamine psychosis is probably not strong enough evidence for a link between DA and schizophrenia.