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by Rowena Kong (Author), Annie Ho (Photographer)
Dopamine is amongst the major classical neurotransmitters which are necessary for our survival and maintenance of health and optimal functioning. Its presence within the human body extends far beyond the brain into our immune system and the renal organ. Read about dopamine's multi-faceted functions in enhancement of our sense of reward and positivity, cognition, memory formation, blood pressure regulation, and how it has a significant role to play in the future pharmacological treatment of depression and schizophrenia. Amongst the additions in this new edition include an expanded focus on a novel and rare symptom of "visual broadcast" in schizophrenia which was first described in the research literature in 2005. Attempts have been made to discuss preliminary explanations for such an atypical manifestation in a patient, leading to an association with stress-induced psychosis and inevitably the etiological significance of both dopamine and cortisol in this condition. In addition, insight on the correlation between cortisol and sleep/wakefulness suggests a more interconnected neurophysiological network at play that seamlessly integrates behaviour and neurohormonal transmission.
