Dopamine and Glutamate STRENGTH - Donnelly et al (1996)
Demonstrated that more homovanillic acid is excreted from the bodies of schizophrenics than normal controls. The fact that there is more acid in the bodies of schizophrenics means there is more dopamine supporting the hypothesis
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Dopamine and Glutamate STRENGTH - Figee et al (2008)
Looked at 13 studies using MRI scans to see the effect of antipsychotic drugs on the brain. Most of the studies showed enhanced activity in the prefrontal cortex of the brains of schizophrenics, confirming its importance in the cause of schizophrenia
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Dopamine and Glutamate STRENGTH of the biology
Drugs given to schizophrenic patients often work by blocking dopamine receptors. If the receptors are blocked then less dopamine can be taken up
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Dopamine and Glutamate WEAKNESS - Carlsson et al (1999)
When undergoing scanning, humans may react differently to the extent that they respond differently from normal. This means that any findings may not have validity- especially if they are linked to psychotic brain functioning.
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Dopamine and Glutamate WEAKNESS - Depatie and Lal (2001)
Investigated amorphine, which increases the effect of dopamine. However, when the drug is given to normal controls, schizophrenic symptoms do not appear.
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Dopamine and Glutamate WEAKNESS of reductionism
The dopamine and glutamate hypotheses only focus on the biological explanations- they are destructively reductionist, as they exclude all social factors that may have triggered schizophrenia, leading to the production of excess dopamine.
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Other cards in this set
Card 2
Front
Looked at 13 studies using MRI scans to see the effect of antipsychotic drugs on the brain. Most of the studies showed enhanced activity in the prefrontal cortex of the brains of schizophrenics, confirming its importance in the cause of schizophrenia
Back
Dopamine and Glutamate STRENGTH - Figee et al (2008)
Card 3
Front
Drugs given to schizophrenic patients often work by blocking dopamine receptors. If the receptors are blocked then less dopamine can be taken up
Back
Card 4
Front
When undergoing scanning, humans may react differently to the extent that they respond differently from normal. This means that any findings may not have validity- especially if they are linked to psychotic brain functioning.
Back
Card 5
Front
Investigated amorphine, which increases the effect of dopamine. However, when the drug is given to normal controls, schizophrenic symptoms do not appear.
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