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Genetics, Brain Structure, and Behavior: Future Directions

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Genetics, Brain Structure, and Behavior: Future Directions
Genetics, Brain Structure, and Behavior: Future Directions
Nevada Finley
PSY/340
May 20, 2013
Stephanie Fernandez
Genetics, Brain Structure, and Behavior: Future Directions Schizophrenia is known as a mental disorder that is categorized by confused thinking and the inability to respond, communicate, or behave appropriately. Individuals who suffer with this disease may see or hear things that are not there, but this is a form of hallucinating. They also feel like others are out to get them, which is a form of paranoia. This particular disorder is not thought to be progressive, but it is chronic and debilitating. Many regions of the brain and other systems operate abnormally in schizophrenic individuals. The frontal lobe is affected because it gives someone with schizophrenia a difficult time in making plans and organizing his or her thoughts. The auditory system can be over-active for someone suffering from this illness, and it can lead to auditory hallucinations. Visual hallucinations are rare, but it will have someone with this illness incapable of understanding images, recognizing motion, and understanding emotions. The limbic system focuses on emotions, and someone with schizophrenia can easily be agitated and not make a clear picture on what is happening. The hippocampus facilitates the formation of learning and memory, these functions are impaired with individuals suffering from such a debilitating illness. Movement of the body, emotions, and integrating the sensory information belongs to the basal ganglia, and someone whose mental capacities are affected can display abnormal functions that can lead to paranoia and hallucinations. An imbalance in the neurotransmitter dopamine was said to be the primary cause of schizophrenia but new research revealed that more universal neurotransmitter glutamates better explain the symptoms relating to schizophrenia. Individuals with this illness have a rare way of showing emotions. They may


References: Davidson L. "Psychotherapeutic and Cognitive-Behavioral Treatments for Schizophrenia: Developing a Disorder-Specific Form of Psychotherapy for Persons with Psychosis," in Perris C, et al., eds. Cognitive Psychotherapy of Psychotic and Personality Disorders: Handbook of Theory and Practice. John Wiley & Sons, 1998. Recent Advances in Social Skills Training for Schizophrenia. (2006, August). Schizophrenia Bulletin, 32(1), S12-S23. Retrieved from http://schizophreniabulletin.oxfordjournals.org.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/content/32/suppl_1/S12 Johnson, D. L. (2005, May). Family Interventions for Schizophrenia: An International View. Psychiatric Times, 22(6), . Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/docview/204565480 Medalia, A., & Choi, J. (2009). Cognitive Remediation In Schizophrenia. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/docview/232848215. Solar, A. (2011). Supported employment can reduce social exclusion and improve schizophrenia . Retrieved from http://av4kc7fg4g.search.serialssolutions.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/?ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&ctx_enc=info%3Aofi%2Fenc%3AUTF- Abnormal Psychology, Tenth Edition Chapter 11: Schizophrenia ISBN: 0471692387 Author: Ann M. Kring, Gerald C. Davison, John M. Neale, Sheri L. Johnson copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. A Pearson Education Company
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