People who have schizophrenia may hear voices or see things that aren’t real. What happens inside the brain of someone who has schizophrenia?
Scientists are working to understand that. They’ve found that people who have the disorder may be more likely to have glitches in their genes that may disrupt brain development.
There’s another key brain difference. Studies show that certain brain chemicals that control thinking, behavior, and emotions are either too active or not active enough in people with schizophrenia.
Doctors also believe the brain loses tissue over time. Imaging tools, like PET scans and MRIs, show that people who have schizophrenia have less “gray matter” -- the part of the brain that contains nerve cells -- over time.
This research is helping efforts to develop better treatments for people who have this condition.