Biological explanation 2 - Brain abnormalities Flashcards
(18 cards)
What is the A01 Content?
- Enlarged ventricles
- Cortical atrophy
- Reversed cerebral asymmetry.
What are ventricles?
Ventircles are cabbies that produce and transport cerebrospinal fluid.
What does cerebrospinal fluid do for the brain?
Provides protection and chemical stability to the brain and spine. Also maintains brain pressure.
How many ventricles are within the brain?
4
What is the difference in ventricles of schizophrenic patients?
They are much larger
What did Weinburger et al do and find?
He used CAT scans and reported that ventricle size was bigger in those with chronic schizophrenia than the control group with no symptoms of schizophrenia.
Why do ventricles enlarge?
They enlarge when brain damage occurs and the neuron’s are destroyed, they enlarge to help maintain pressure in the brain. Maybe in schizophrenics brain damage has occurred.
What is cortical atrophy?
When the brain suffers a loss of volume, could be fewer neurons.
What are the support cells called within the brain?
Glial cells
Potential cause of brain volume shrinking?
Lack of glial cells within the brain, these cells support neurones could suggest why neurons may have difficulty functioning.
What did Vita et al do and find?
Used CAT scans to assess over 100 individuals with schizophrenia and a control group, found that 33% of the individuals with schizophrenia showed moderate to severe atrophy.
How are our brains structured in terms of symmetry?
The temporal, parietal and occipital lobes are usually larger on the left side of the brain but the frontal lobe is larger one the left. Left hemisphere has more folds than the right meaning more surface area. Left has more cortical space.
How does brain symmetry differ in schizophrenics?
The right hemisphere is larger than the left. Speech is with the left so could suggest poor symptoms such as Alogia.
Evaluation - Research reliability
Both enlarged ventricles and cortical atrophy have been found in a range of research which enhances its reliability. But structural abnormalities are not common in research.
What did McCarley suggest?
He suggested that factors such as age, sex etc all exert a powerful influence on the pattern of observed brain abnormalities.
Evaluation - A cause or effect of schizophrenia?
It is unclear whether they are a cause or a symptom of schizophrenia. Environmental factors may affect structure. A study showed that as schizophrenics took anti-psychotics the density of the brain tissue decreased suggesting that it could be the medication after diagnosis.
Evaluation - Neurodegenrative of neurodevelopment
Oblai et al found brain volume decreases in schizophrenia over time suggesting progressive brain damage. Smaller abnormalities were found in those at high risk but much bigger in chronic patients suggesting that it’s progressive.
Evaluation - Research support
Gottesman et al found that concordance of schizophrenia was higher in identical twins than non identical twins.
