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1-key concept

Excessive dopamine receptor activity is linked to schizophrenia. Higher dopamine firing increases acetylcholine activity and affects the temporal and occipital lobes, which are involved in memory. When overactive, the brain resembles a dream-like state while awake, producing hallucinations that feel real. Genetic predisposition increases susceptibility, especially when hallucinogenics (affecting serotonin) are used, triggering visual and auditory hallucinations.

2

These chemical and neural mechanisms can generate perceptions and actions that feel internally “chosen” but are actually driven by abnormal neurotransmitter activity, showing that conscious choice can be hijacked by brain chemistry.

Hallucinations in schizophrenia illustrate that a person’s experience of reality can be distorted by dopamine overactivity. Studies show that hallucinogens can precipitate these effects in genetically predisposed individuals.

Claim

Because neurotransmitter activity can compel experiences and behaviors outside conscious control, free will is constrained by the brain’s chemical state