#bloae

[whenyournotesfailyou]

Hietala (1995) - schizophrenia, dopamine

Presynaptic dopamine function - measured by uptake of flurodopa (used for PET radioactive compound), was observed by a PET scan for 7 schizophrenic patients and 8 healthy people (whom were the control). Findings: The fluorodopa influx constant increased in schizophrenic patients. Conclusion: Alterations in presynaptic dopamine function make people more inclined to have schizophrenia.

[whenyournotesfailyou]

Gur et al. (1995)

Found more active metabolism in primitive brain centers controlling violence in men than in women by using a PET scan.

[whenyournotesfailyou]

De Bellis et al. (2000)

Aim: To find if there are sex and age differences in brain development during childhood and adolescence by investigating 3 areas of the brain to find volume of those areas changed over time. Method: Using MRI scan. Results: Volume of grey matter decreased while volume of white matter and corpus callosum increased with age. Sex differences --> females showed less change compared to males.

[whenyournotesfailyou]

Kasamatsu & Hirai (1999) - Neurotransmitter serotonin

Aim: How sensory deprivation affects the brain. Procedure: Researchers studied a group of Buddhist monks who went on a 72-hour pilgrimage to a holy mountain in Japan. On the mountain, monks did not consume food or water and did not speak. They were exposed to the cold, late autumn weather. After 48 hours, they began having hallucinations, often seeing ancestors or feeling a presence by their sides. Researchers took blood samples before and after monks went to the mountain. Findings: They found serotonin levels increased in monks’ brains. Higher levels were activated in hypothalamus and the frontal cortex resulting in hallucinations.