Schizophrenia is primarily associated with high levels of which neurotransmitter?

Schizophrenia is primarily associated with high levels of dopamine, which plays a crucial role in several brain functions, including mood regulation, perception, and cognitive processing. The dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia suggests that overactivity of dopamine transmission in certain brain regions contributes to the symptoms of the disorder, particularly positive symptoms like hallucinations and delusions.

Research indicates that antipsychotic medications, which are often used to treat schizophrenia, work by blocking dopamine receptors, thereby reducing the effects of excess dopamine. This connection between dopamine and schizophrenia underlines its significance in understanding the neurobiology of the disorder.

Other neurotransmitters listed in the options have different roles. While norepinephrine is linked to mood regulation and arousal, serotonin is involved in mood and anxiety pathways. Glutamate, an excitatory neurotransmitter, is also being studied in relation to schizophrenia, but the prominent association remains with dopamine. Therefore, when discussing the neurotransmitter predominantly implicated in schizophrenia, dopamine stands out as the most relevant.