Identify and describe the two major brain anomalies in schizophrenia. Determine how these anomalies were tested, measured, and/or observed.

Question

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Answer 1

The two major brain anomalies are brain tissue deficits and hypofrontality. Brain tissue deficits include decreases in both white and gray matter in at least 50 different brain areas. Most common are deficits in the frontal and temporal lobes. Activity is also dysregulated in specific structures, which include decreased activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and increased activity in the orbitofrontal cortex and part of the hippocampus. Another brain anomaly includes enlarged ventricles, although this is not evident in all patients with schizophrenia. Measuring decreases in brain tissue volume was most likely done using CT or MRI techniques, while dysregulation of brain activity was measured using PET or fMRI techniques. Hypofrontality involves deficits in prefrontal lobe functioning. The main neurotransmitter involved is dopamine. This anomaly is often tested behaviorally using the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test and physiologically using the PET or fMRI techniques.