Dopamine

Question 1

How is the dopamine receptor linked to human behaviour?

Answer 1

• the D4 receptor is a receptor in the brain for a neurotransmitter called dopamine
• having too many D4 receptors in the brain has been linked to abnormal behaviour such as schizophrenia
• the evidence for this is if drugs that stimulate dopamine receptors are given to healthy people out causes the abnormal behaviour seen in schizophrenia
• if drugs that block D4 receptors are given it reduces the symptoms in people with schizophrenia
• people with schizophrenia have a higher density of D4 receptors in their brain
• one of the drugs that’s used to treat schizophrenia binds to D4 receptors better than it binds to other dopamine receptors
• the link between the D4 receptor and abnormal behaviour helps us to understand the role that the D4 receptors plays in normal behaviour, it’s involved in thinking, perception, memory and emotions