What brain changes are typically observed in patients with schizophrenia?

Patients with schizophrenia often exhibit specific brain changes that can be observed through neuroimaging studies. One of the hallmark changes is the enlargement of the lateral and third ventricles. This enlargement can be understood as a result of the loss of surrounding brain tissue, which correlates with some of the cognitive and perceptual disturbances that patients experience. The enlargement of the ventricles is not merely a physical observation but is believed to reflect underlying neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative processes associated with the disorder.

The other options do not accurately reflect the characteristic changes seen in schizophrenia. Increased cortical thickness is typically not observed; in fact, there is often a reduction in cortical volume. While decreased white matter has been documented in some studies, it is not as universally recognized as the enlargement of the ventricles. Similarly, reduced blood flow to the occipital lobe might occur in individual cases or specific subtypes of schizophrenia, but it is not a defining feature consistent across all patients. Therefore, the notable finding of enlarged ventricles is a significant marker in the neurological profile of schizophrenia.