Neural basis

• Neural correlates

  patterns of structure or activity in the brain that occur in conjunction with an experience, and may be implicated in the origins of our experience
• dopamine

  A neurotransmitter that generally has an excitatory effect and linked to the sensation of pleasure

  unusually high levels are associated with SZ and unusually low levels are associated with Parkinson’s disease.
• Dopamine hypothesis

  drugs used to treat SZ caused similar symptoms to those with Parkinson’s disease, a condition associated with low dopamine levels

  so SZ might be the result of high dopamine levels
• newer dopamine hypothesis

  the idea of low levels of dopamine to cause SZ

  low dopamine in the prefrontal cortex could explain, cognitive problems which results in the negative symptoms of SZ
• a strength is support for the idea that dopamine is involved in SZ

  amphetamines increase dopamine and worsen the symptoms in people with SZ and induces symptoms in people without SZ

  antiphsycotic drugs reduce domaine activity and reduce SZ symptoms

  this provides strong evidence that dopamine is involved in the symptoms SZ
• a limitation is evidence for the centra role of glutamate

  post mortem and live scanning studies have consistent found raised levels of the neurotransmitter glutamate in several brain regions of people with SZ

  several candidate genes for SZ are believed to be involved in glutamate production or processing

  this means that an equally strong case can be made for a role of other neurotransmitters