In a new study developed by researchers at the Washington University in St. Louis, experts found elements of how this neurotransmitter changes brain circuits to produce hallucinations.

They found that a rise in the levels of this hormone in rodents preceded events similar to hallucinations.

Although this is also known to occur in humans and can be treated with antipsychotic medications, the finding shows the presence of a neural circuit regulated by dopamine that, when unbalanced, produces hallucinations and psychotic episodes.

They also found that people’s beliefs and expectations can prepare them to experience hallucinations.

Expecting to hear a certain word makes an individual more likely to actually say that they heard it, even when the word was not uttered in any context.

Consequently, the mysteries surrounding human speech and its understanding would also be vital: this system can become chaotic from one moment to the next and produce a tendency to hallucinations.

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