Antipsychotic Drugs & the Brain

For years, atypical neuroleptic drugs have been treating schizophrenia- an illness characterized by delusions and hallucinations. Scientists are just now beginning to understand just why this popular class of drugs works. By using biosensors, they can see chemical communication taking place in the brain. Atypical neuroleptics submit large releases of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter. However, they have also been shown to barricade a certain type of receptor cell, which would block this message. To find out which action prevailed when scientists put it to the test, click here