Biological Explanations for SZ (AO1)
- Created by: jessiejo
- Created on: 13-03-17 15:13
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- Biological Explanations- Schizophrenia
- Genetic Basis
- SZ runs in families
- Strong relationship between genetic similarity of family members + likelihood of developing SZ
- Gottesman (1991)- found MZ twins 48% concordance rate, DZ twins 17%
- Strong relationship between genetic similarity of family members + likelihood of developing SZ
- SZ is polygenetic + aetiologically heterogenous
- Each individual gene confers a small increased risk of SZ (polygenetic)
- Different combos of genes can lead to SZ
- Ripke et al. (2014)- studied 37,000 patients + found 108 separate genetic variations associated with increased risk.
- SZ runs in families
- Dopamine Hypothesis
- Role of Dopamine (DA)
- Believed to be involved in SZ because it is featured in the functioning of brain systems related to symptoms
- Hyperdopaminergia
- High DA activity in subcortex, associated with hallucinations + poverty of speech
- E.g. excess of DA receptors in Broca's area
- High DA activity in subcortex, associated with hallucinations + poverty of speech
- Hypodopaminergia
- More recent versions of hypothesis have focused on low levels of DA in the prefrontal cortex
- Responsible for thinking and decision-making
- More recent versions of hypothesis have focused on low levels of DA in the prefrontal cortex
- Role of Dopamine (DA)
- Neural Correlates
- Measurement of the structure/function of the brain that correlate with the positive/negative symptoms
- Ventral Striatum is involved in anticipation of rewards. Loss of motivation in SZ may be explained by low activity levels here
- Juckel et al. (2006) found a negative correlation between VS activity + negative symptoms
- Genetic Basis
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