Question

3. Describe two types of biological/brain evidence (neurodevelopmental, genetic, neurotransmitter, imaging) for schizophrenia

Answer 1

Ample research has been conducted with respect to biological and brain evidence for schizophrenia. Excessive activity of the neurotransmitter dopamine has long been implicated in schizophrenia. The observation of antipsychotic drugs blocking dopamine receptors in the brain and thereby reducing psychotic symptoms supports the idea that an overactive dopaminergic system causes schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is also conceptualized as a neurodevelopmental illness. Although the course of schizophrenia does not mirror that of a typical neurodevelopmental disease, the neural apparatus linked to schizophrenia does not mature until late teens, and cannot fully express its dysfunction before this.