AP PSYCHOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter of the central nervous system. The finding that antagonists of a specific glutamate receptor, the N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate (NMDA) receptor, induce psychotic symptoms has led to a wealth of research implicating the glutamate system in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.

Detailed explanation-2: -Research suggests schizophrenia may be caused by a change in the level of 2 neurotransmitters: dopamine and serotonin. Some studies indicate an imbalance between the 2 may be the basis of the problem. Others have found a change in the body’s sensitivity to the neurotransmitters is part of the cause of schizophrenia.

Detailed explanation-3: -Schizophrenia is a complex brain disorder. It often runs in families and can cause troubling symptoms. It’s caused by a chemical imbalance and other changes in the brain. Symptoms include hearing voices, feeling that people are out to get you, and having false beliefs that are not based in reality.

Detailed explanation-4: -Elevated glutamine, which was directly related to psychotic symptoms, is consistent with increased glutamatergic synaptic release in schizophrenia, as predicted by the N-methyl-d-aspartic acid receptor hypofunction model.

Detailed explanation-5: -The glutamate hypothesis of schizophrenia is centered on a deficiency in activity of glutamate at the glutamate synapse, especially in the prefrontal cortex [48, 49]. In many brain areas, dopamine inhibits glutamate release, or glutamate excites neurons that dopamine inhibits [49].