Final answer:
Disorganized thoughts in schizophrenia likely stem from a breakdown in selective attention and neurotransmitter system disruptions, including dopamine and glutamate signaling. Symptoms are managed by antipsychotic medications, which can help control symptoms but are not a complete cure.
Step-by-step explanation:
The disorganized thoughts experienced by those with schizophrenia most likely result from selective attention deficits and problems with neurotransmitter systems, such as dopamine and glutamate. Schizophrenia involves symptoms like hallucinations, delusions, and 'negative' symptoms, including a loss of pleasure and basic drives. These symptoms, especially cognitive deficits and disorganized thinking, have been associated with an imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission in the brain. This involves particularly a discoordination between GABAergic and glutamatergic firing in the cortex that affects normal cognitive function.
Furthermore, research indicates that the development of schizophrenia results from a complex interplay of both genetic vulnerability and environmental factors. Antipsychotic medications, which often target the dopaminergic system by blocking dopamine receptors, are a common treatment for managing symptoms of schizophrenia, although they are not a cure. Dysfunction in dopaminergic neurons, as well as potential disruptions in glutamate signaling, are thought to be involved in the manifestation of schizophrenia.