A double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study of the effects of
apomorphine on regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) during a prefrontal
cortex activation task was undertaken to explore the role of dopamine on
cortical function. The subjects were eight drug-free, chronically psychotic
patients; six patients had schizophrenia. In each, apomorphine increased
the relative prefrontal flow. The results suggest that enhanced prefrontal
dopamine activity may reverse deficits in prefrontal cortex metabolism in
schizophrenia.Abstract Teaser