The dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia was developed in part due to research on the effects of psychoactive drugs in the brain. Drugs that _____ dopamine activity in mesolimbic areas of the brain are associated with a reduction in the _____ symptoms of schizophrenia such as _____.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to the dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia, an excess of dopamine activity in the mesolimbic pathway is associated with positive symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations. Drugs that reduce dopamine activity in this pathway (such as antipsychotics) are effective at reducing positive symptoms. Negative symptoms of schizophrenia, such as social withdrawal and poverty of speech, are thought to be related to reduced dopamine activity in the mesocortical pathway, and are not consistently improved by antipsychotic medications.

The Dopamine Hypothesis of Schizophrenia Was Developed in Part Due