1. Specification details:
Schizophrenia
Pages of Year 2 book
Specification details:
Biological explanations for schizophrenia: genetics, the dopamine hypothesis and neural correlates.

2. Biological Explanations
Genetics
Biochemistry
Brain Structure

3. Neural correlates of schizophrenia
Neural correlates are measurements of the structure or function of the brain that occur in conjunction with an experience, in this case schizophrenia.
There is growing evidence that schizophrenia is down to structural abnormalities in the brain
Brain scanning techniques have made it possible to investigate living brain images.
Both positive and negative symptoms have correlates   

4. Neural correlates of schizophrenia
Neural correlates of negative symptoms
Activity in the ventral striatum has been linked to the development of avolition (loss of motivation)
The ventral striatum are believed to be particularly involved in the anticipation of a reward for certain actions
Therefore, if there is abnormality in areas such as the ventral striatum, then this would result in a lack of motivation (avolition)   

5. Neural correlates of schizophrenia
Neural correlates of positive symptoms
Reduced activity in the superior temporal gyrus and anterior cingulate gyrus have been linked to the development of auditory hallucinations
Patients experiencing auditory hallucinations showed lower activation levels in these areas than controls
Therefore, reduced activity in these areas of the brain is a neural correlate of auditory hallucinations   

7. Neural correlates of schizophrenia
People with schizophrenia have abnormally large ventricles in the brain. Ventricles are fluid filled cavities. This means that the brains of schizophrenics are lighter than normal.

9. Neural correlates of schizophrenia

10. Complete worksheet 8.5 in your pack
Worksheet task
Complete worksheet 8.5 in your pack

11. Neural correlates of schizophrenia - evaluation
Findings are inconsistent and therefore inconclusive
MRIs have made it possible to investigate living brain images which is an advance on merely having to rely on post mortems
There are, however issues of causality. Cause and effect can not be established with brain abnormalities - it is still uncertain whether structural abnormalities/reduced functioning predispose to schizophrenia, or whether the onset of the clinical symptoms causes these changes.

12. Evaluation Summary
Biological explanations do account for schizophrenia, however the fact that there is no conclusive explanation that accounts for all schizophrenics - research is difficult to interpret and there have been contradictory findings.
It is difficult to establish cause and effect – as many participants have suffered from schizophrenia for a while and have been undergoing treatment.
Enlarged ventricles may be the result of taking anti-psychotic medication for example
Biological explanations are reductionist in attempting to explain a complex multi- faceted disorder at the level of cells, genes and chemicals

13. Evaluation Summary
Biological explanations are deterministic in the assumption that the disorder can be inherited and unavoidable
Biological explanations do account for schizophrenia, however the fact that there is no conclusive explanation that accounts for all schizophrenics means that psychological explanations need to be considered.
A ‘diathesis-stress’ relationship may be at work – an individual may have a genetic predisposition for schizophrenia but it may be due to environmental factors that lead to the onset of the condition

14. Exam Question
Prepare for this timed question for next lesson Discuss biological explanations for schizophrenia. (16 marks)

15. Ensure you have written up your class notes to include the following:
Homework
Ensure you have written up your class notes to include the following:
How a genetic explanation for schizophrenia is investigated
Explanation of the dopamine hypothesis
Explanation of neural correlates, including neural correlates of both negative symptoms and positive symptoms
Evaluation of biological explanations for schizophrenia