What Parts of the Brain Are Affected by Schizophrenia?

Eugene Bleuler (1857 to 1939) first introduced the term "schizophrenia" in 1908. It refers to a "splitting" of the mind. Although the exact causes of schizophrenia remain unclear, there does appear to be overwhelming evidence that abnormal brain functioning could be a factor in the disease.

The Dopamine Hypothesis

• According to the dopamine hypothesis theory, dopamine (a neurotransmitter in the brain) seems to be overactive in people with schizophrenia. This overabundance of dopamine in the mesolimbic pathway of the brain can produce motor and cognitive deficits, i.e psychosis (audio and visual hallucinations).

Structural Brain Differences

• Some patients with schizophrenia show structural changes in the brain (frontal lobe region). MRIs (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) reveal marked reductions in gray matter, decreased brain volume and activity in patients.

Ventricle Size

• The ventricles and basal nuclei (located in the frontal lobe of brain) tend to be larger in patients with the disease. Also, the hippocampus and amygdala (almond-shaped structure in brain) appear to be smaller.

The Hippocampus

• A recent study by Columbia University doctors (Science Daily 2009), found increased activity in the hippocampus after scanning the brains of people at risk for developing schizophrenia. The majority of patients with this early, high activity in the hippocampus developed schizophrenia. These findings could possibly help in the early diagnosis of the disease.

Treatment

• Schizophrenia can be treated with anti-psychotics (i.e. Zyprexa, Olanzapine or Risperodone). These medicines are useful in treating the negative and positive symptoms of the disease. Side effects from the medication are: dry mouth, grogginess, blurred vision and tardive dsykinesia (involuntary movements of the tongue, face, mouth and jaw).