Final answer:
The correct answer is option a) Enlargement of the lateral and third ventricles, is a reliable piece of evidence of neural dysfunction in schizophrenia, indicating atrophy of brain tissue.
Step-by-step explanation:
One of the most reliable pieces of evidence of neural dysfunction in schizophrenia is the enlargement of the lateral and third ventricles. This enlargement indicates atrophy of brain tissue, providing a biomarker for the structural brain changes associated with schizophrenia.
It has been shown in volumetric magnetic resonance imaging studies that individuals with schizophrenia often have these enlarged ventricles, which can be contrasted with the normal size of ventricles in healthy brains.
Alterations in the ratio of the hippocampus to whole brain volume, and changes in gray and white matter also play roles in the pathology of schizophrenia, but the most consistent finding across many studies is the ventricular enlargement.