Is it true that there is a thin line between genius and madness?
From the kooky scientist maniacally laughing in his laboratory to the schizophrenic, socially inept math whiz, we've seen the plight of the mad genius played out in the media quite often.
New reports from scientists may unlock the alleged link between genius and madness with new discoveries on the gene DARPP-32.
According to the fresh study from the National Institutes of Health, three-fourths of people inherit a version of the DARPP-32 gene that optimizes the brain's circuitry yet increases the risk for schizophrenia.
Specifically, the variant of this gene causes increased function within the prefrontal cortex of your brain, which allows increased processing, circuit activation and filtering of information. Interestingly enough, it now seems this same genetic variant which causes increased mental abilities may be associated with the cognitive impairment and disturbances common to schizophrenia.
According to Dr. Lindenberg, who reported on this study, "DARPP-32 shapes and controls the circuit between the human striatum and prefrontal cortex that affects key brain functions implicated in schizophrenia, such as motivation, working memory and reward related learning."
By increasing cortex connectivity, the advantage of the gene variant is clear as it can provide increased memory ability, problem solving and mental control. This advantage, it seems, can backfire if the prefrontal cortex is impaired as seen in schizophrenia.
According to Dr. Weinberger of the research team, "...If other genes and environmental events conspire to render the cortex incapable of handling such information, it could backfire, resulting in the neural equivalent of a superhighway to a dead-end."
Worldwide, over 51 million people suffer from schizophrenia, which usually has an onset at a young age.
A few accomplished minds who have shown a tie in with schizophrenia include John Nash (Noble Prize mathematician, who the movie A Beautiful Mind is based upon), Eduard Einstein (son of Albert Einstein), Dr. James Watson's son (documented DNA structure along with colleaugue Francis Crick), Jack Kerouac and more.
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