Final answer:
Option (D), Individuals with schizophrenia have been shown to have a smaller thalamus, a central structure in the brain associated with sensory information processing and cognitive functions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Research has shown that individuals with schizophrenia reportedly have a smaller thalamus. Several imaging studies suggest that the thalamus, which is crucial for relaying sensory signals and acting as a center for pain perception, consciousness, and alertness, is reduced in size in patients with schizophrenia. This reduction in thalamic volume may relate to the symptoms of schizophrenia, as the thalamus plays a significant role in cognitive functions and the processing of sensory information.
Furthermore, the development of schizophrenia involves the malfunctioning of dopaminergic neurons and may also engage problems with glutamate signaling. Antipsychotic medications are often required for the treatment of schizophrenia and work by blocking dopamine receptors, reducing neurotransmission, and thereby affecting several brain regions, including the thalamus.