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Creativity Potentially Linked To Schizophrenia
mcgrew writes "New Scientist is reporting that creativity may be linked to schizophrenia via a common gene. Szabolcs Kéri, a researcher at Semmelweis University in Budapest, Hungary, carried a study of creative people. 'Kéri examined a gene involved in brain development called neuregulin 1, which previous studies have linked to a slightly increased risk of schizophrenia. Moreover, a single DNA letter mutation that affects how much of the neuregulin 1 protein is made in the brain has been linked to psychosis, poor memory and sensitivity to criticism. About 50 per cent of healthy Europeans have one copy of this mutation, while 15 per cent possess two copies. People with two copies of the neuregulin 1 mutation — about 12 per cent of the study participants — tended to score notably higher on these measures of creativity, compared with other volunteers with one or no copy of the mutation. Those with one copy were also judged to be more creative, on average, than volunteers without the mutation.' They hypothesize that people with this gene with high IQs are creative, while those with lower IQs are simply prone to the hallucinations that characterize the disease."
They hypothesize that people with this gene with high IQs are creative, while those with lower IQs are simply prone to the hallucinations
Why do they hypothesize that? There are plenty of geniuses with mental health issues. Take John Nash.
Personality disorders aren't genetic. There may be an underlying predisposition to stress or poor coping mechanisms, but personality disorders are not genetic in nature. They're caused primarily by environmental factors
Right, and the notable differences in brain morphology are merely due to "environmental" factors.
and they're definitely not mental illness in a technical sense.
How about this and this? Those are extremely technical.
They aren't treatable via medication
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Medications aren't likely to ever help out much.
Have you ever been diagnosed for a mental disorder and prescribed medication? I have, and it makes a world of difference. I know other people who have, and they concur. The meds can mean the difference between being able to live a productive life and being locked down in a padded cell. You don't know what you're talking about.
and even the as yet unproven brain chemistry explanation of mental illness doesn't apply.
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Personality disorders are better thought of as a culture that's unique the the person and not to the people around which the person is living. It's a systematic adjustment that the brain makes to cope with adverse conditions and it's not something which can be readily separated from the individual's self. As opposed to mental illnesses where people will frequently have periods, however brief, of remission.
Citations, please. Otherwise you're just talking out of your ass.
Excuse me, wtf r u doin?