AP PSYCHOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -The authors hypothesize that schizophrenia is characterized by abnormally low prefrontal dopamine activity (causing deficit symptoms) leading to excessive dopamine activity in mesolimbic dopamine neurons (causing positive symptoms).

Detailed explanation-2: -The most common theory about the cause of schizophrenia is that there are too many dopamine receptors in certain parts of the brain, specifically the mesolimbic pathway. 1 This causes an increase in mesolimbic activity which results in delusions, hallucinations, and other psychotic symptoms.

Detailed explanation-3: -The neurotransmitter dopamine (DA) and the dopaminergic neurones play an important role in schizophrenia and Parkinson’s disease (PD). A decrease in DA in the substantia nigra of the brain has been implicated as the cause of PD.

Detailed explanation-4: -Too much for your own good: Excessive dopamine damages neurons and contributes to Parkinson’s disease.