The Theories Of Schizophreni Dopamine, Glutamate, Brain...

The four theories that are behind the cause of schizophrenia as referenced in the PowerPoint are Dopamine, Glutamate, Brain Abnormalities, and Nature vs. Nurture / More than one cause. 1. Dopamine Definition Dopamine is a neurotransmitter. It is one of the chemicals that is responsible for transmitting signals between the neurons of the brain. However, very few of those neurons actually produce dopamine. (psychologytoday.com) Theory The main theory concerning dopamine is that too much it can result in schizophrenia. Antipsychotic medications that are used to treat schizophrenia block dopamine receptors. The purpose of these medications is to bind the dopamine receptors to the brain, and some of their effects have helped people cope with the symptoms. (healthcommunities.com) The regions of the brain that are affected by dopamine are known as the striatum and the thalamus. Schizophrenia results have shown that in these regions in the brain, there are altered levels of D2 binding potential. Patients that have schizophrenia who do not take antipsychotic medications will have a lower thalamic D2 binding potential. So, schizophrenia patients that go untreated have a higher number of D2 receptors in the striatum. (psychcentral.com) 2. Glutamate Definition Glutamate is an amino acid that functions as a neurotransmitter. It sends chemical messages in the brain by exciting neurons that are sensitive to it. It performs an important role in memory, brain development, and