title: Variability and the dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia.
abstract: The dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia is usually presented in a static, rather than dynamic fashion. We propose that increased dopaminergic activity may represent a stage of a dynamic schizophrenic process rather than its cause. Dopamine, as well as other neurotransmitters, responds in an adaptive fashion to stimuli that perturb the homeostasis of the brain. One such stimulus could be an epileptic focus in the temporal lobe. Other such stimuli undoubtedly also exist.
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology*; D004833:Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008032:Limbic System / Q000503:physiopathology; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine / Q000502:physiology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D011954:Receptors, Dopamine; D004298:Dopamine