Dopamine Hypothesis of Schizophrenia: Quiz for Psychology Students

🧠 Quick Study Guide: Dopamine Hypothesis of Schizophrenia

• 💡 Core Idea: Proposes that schizophrenia is caused by an excess of dopamine activity in certain brain areas.
• 🔬 Initial Evidence: Based on the observation that amphetamines (which increase dopamine) can induce psychotic symptoms, and antipsychotic drugs (dopamine antagonists) reduce them.
• 🎯 Key Brain Regions: Focuses on the mesolimbic pathway (hyperactivity linked to positive symptoms like hallucinations, delusions) and the mesocortical pathway (hypoactivity linked to negative symptoms like apathy, anhedonia).
• 💊 First-Generation Antipsychotics: Primarily block D2 dopamine receptors, effective against positive symptoms.
• 🔄 Second-Generation Antipsychotics (Atypical): Block D2 receptors less potently and also affect other neurotransmitters like serotonin, often targeting both positive and negative symptoms with fewer motor side effects.
• 🧐 Limitations/Refinements: The original hypothesis is overly simplistic. It doesn't explain negative symptoms well, and other neurotransmitters (e.g., glutamate, serotonin) are also implicated. Modern views suggest a more complex dysregulation.
• 🧬 Current Understanding: Shift towards a "dysfunctional dopamine system" rather than just "excess," involving complex interactions and specific receptor subtypes.

📝 Practice Quiz: Dopamine Hypothesis

Question 1:
The original Dopamine Hypothesis of Schizophrenia primarily suggested that the disorder was caused by:
A) A deficiency of serotonin.
B) An excess of dopamine activity.
C) Structural abnormalities in the hippocampus.
D) Genetic mutations in GABA receptors.

Question 2:
Which of the following classes of drugs provided early support for the Dopamine Hypothesis by mimicking psychotic symptoms?
A) Benzodiazepines
B) Antidepressants
C) Amphetamines
D) Mood stabilizers

Question 3:
First-generation (typical) antipsychotics primarily exert their therapeutic effects by:
A) Enhancing serotonin reuptake.
B) Blocking D2 dopamine receptors.
C) Increasing GABAergic activity.
D) Stimulating dopamine production.

Question 4:
Hyperactivity in which dopamine pathway is most commonly associated with the positive symptoms (e.g., hallucinations, delusions) of schizophrenia?
A) Nigrostriatal pathway
B) Tuberoinfundibular pathway
C) Mesocortical pathway
D) Mesolimbic pathway

Question 5:
A limitation of the original Dopamine Hypothesis is its inability to fully explain:
A) The effectiveness of typical antipsychotics.
B) The development of tardive dyskinesia.
C) The presence of negative symptoms in schizophrenia.
D) The role of genetics in schizophrenia.

Question 6:
Second-generation (atypical) antipsychotics differ from first-generation antipsychotics by often also affecting which other neurotransmitter system?
A) Acetylcholine
B) Norepinephrine
C) Serotonin
D) Glutamate

Question 7:
Current refinements to the Dopamine Hypothesis often propose a more nuanced view, suggesting:
A) A complete shift away from dopamine's involvement.
B) That only D1 receptors are relevant.
C) A dysfunctional dopamine system involving complex interactions.
D) That dopamine excess is uniform across all brain regions.