Theory

The Dopamine Hypothesis of Schizophrenia

The dopamine hypothesis posits that schizophrenia is linked to irregularities in the dopamine system. The original theory suggested that the disorder was caused by a general excess of dopamine or an overabundance of dopamine receptors. However, this view has been refined. More recent research indicates that dopamine abnormalities are specific to different brain regions. An oversupply of dopamine in the limbic system is thought to be responsible for positive symptoms like hallucinations and delusions, while a deficit of dopamine in the prefrontal cortex is associated with negative symptoms such as avolition and alogia.

0

2

Updated 2026-07-06

Tags

Behavioral Neuroscience

Psychology

Neuroscience (Neurobiology)

Social Science

Empirical Science

Science

Life Science / Biology

Biomedical Sciences

Natural Science

Ch.15 Psychological Disorders - Psychology @ OpenStax

OpenStax

Psychology @ OpenStax

Introduction to Psychology @ OpenStax Course

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook

Related