Neural- dopamine hypothesis

Dopamine

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter which has many functions in the brain.

The dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia suggests that abnormalities in the dopamine systems involved in movement and attention are responsible for the physical and cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia.

Hyperdopaminergia

An increase in dopamine activity (hyperdopaminergia) in the subcortex of the brain has been linked to positive symptoms of schizophrenia.

This may be due to the presence of abnormally high levels of D2 receptors on the post synaptic membrane. This means more dopamine binding and more neuron firing.

If this increased activity occurs in Brocas area which is responsible for speech production, it is known to lead to auditory hallucinations (hearing voices) and additions to speech (word salad), which are symptoms of paranoid and disorganised schizophrenia.

(Remember by Hyper-Sub-Roca)

Hypodopaminergia

In addition, a decrease in dopamine activity- hypodopaminergia- in the cortex has been linked to negative symptoms of schizophrenia.

Decreased activity in the prefrontal cortex which is responsible for higher order thinking can be linked to cognitive deficits such as abolition and derailment which impairs decision making.

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