Unusually high levels of dopamine are related to the positive symptoms of schizophrenia
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How does dopamine cause positive symptoms of SZ?
neurons that transmit dopamine fire too easily or too often, patients have more D2 receptors that means more dopamine binds to them and so more neurons fire.
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What do the old explanations of the dopamine hypothesis revolve around? (hyperdopaminergia)
High levels of dopamine in the sub cortex were responsible for positive symptoms (eg- speech poverty is linked to high levels of dopamine in Broca's area which is responsible for speech production)
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What are the more recent approaches to the dopamine hypothesis? (Hypodopaminergia)
Have focused on abnormal dopamine systems in the brain's cortex (eg- low levels of dopamine in prefrontal cortex leading to negative symptoms - prefrontal cortex is responsible for decision making)
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What is one of the strengths of the dopamine hypothesis?
It has been used to develop treatments for positive symptoms of SZ, such as drugs that alter the levels of dopamine in the brain.
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What is one of the weaknesses of the dopamine hypothesis?
Some people still experience symptoms of SZ despite having normal levels of dopamine - suggests that it may not be the only explanation of SZ.
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Other cards in this set
Card 2
Front
How does dopamine cause positive symptoms of SZ?
Back
neurons that transmit dopamine fire too easily or too often, patients have more D2 receptors that means more dopamine binds to them and so more neurons fire.
Card 3
Front
What do the old explanations of the dopamine hypothesis revolve around? (hyperdopaminergia)
Back
Card 4
Front
What are the more recent approaches to the dopamine hypothesis? (Hypodopaminergia)
Back
Card 5
Front
What is one of the strengths of the dopamine hypothesis?
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