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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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Genius, Madness Linked to Gene

Study links creativity to gene associated with mental illness

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(Newser) – The reason why many creative people like Vincent Van Gogh show self-destructive tendencies is in the genes, researchers have discovered. Scientists in a new study found that volunteers identified as the most creative also had the highest levels of a gene variant associated with psychosis and depression, the Daily Telegraph reports.

Volunteers with the highest levels of the gene—neuregulin 1—"were more likely to have higher scores on the creativity assessment and also greater lifetime creative achievements than volunteers with a different form of the gene," said the lead researcher. The study is the first to show that a gene associated with insanity can also have some beneficial qualities, according to the scientists.

Troubled genius Vincent Van Gogh in a self-portrait.
Troubled genius Vincent Van Gogh in a self-portrait.   (AP Photo/The Morgan Library & Museum)
Volunteers were asked questions like:
Volunteers were asked questions like: "Just suppose clouds had strings attached to them which hang down to earth. What would happen?"   (©Saige_is_peachy_coffee!)
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Molecular factors that are loosely associated with severe mental disorders but are present in many healthy people may have an advantage enabling us to think more creatively.
- Lead researcher Dr. Szabolcs Kéri

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opheliaglass
Sep 30, 09 8:25 AM CDT
"Insanity can also have some beneficial qualities"... Duh, that's why a lot of people choose not to be medicated. I'm not any sort of authority on this, but I've observed that the artistic mindset, mental illness, drugs, meditation, etc will all expand one's consciousness in ways that defy description; if you stay in any one of those for too long or approach it wrong, of course it's bad. But otherwise it fosters openness and creativity. As long as you're not stabbing people because you think they're satan, there's nothing wrong with being nuts. Reply
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Derni
Sep 30, 09 10:41 AM CDT
Some bipolar patients will say they don't want to bemedicated since it affects their creativity-what they're really saying is that it affects their manic state-and many bipolar patients are addicted to the "manic episodes" they experience-studies that hvae been done on people that have an illness in the brain and don't want to take medication since it affects their creativity (so they say and believe) has shown that it actuall structures their experience and creativity. Its similar to the LSD and other drug experiments that were done in the 60's and 70's-they showed that altering a "normal brain" did not increase creativity or artisitic abillity even though the user felt s/he was more creative. Reply
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JoeQ
Sep 30, 09 11:14 AM CDT
Maybe the mutation proffers some benefit like in sickle cell anemia. A single dose of it is beneficial, immunizing you to bad things in the environment like loan sharks, car salesmen, and right wing talk radio. But a double dose of it and you're just nuts. Reply
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Mad
Sep 30, 09 11:52 AM CDT
They do call manic/depression bipolar disorder 'the brilliant madness' for a reason. >Bows deeply< Reply
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wwwonderer
Sep 30, 09 2:02 PM CDT
I consider myself a genius. I also know I'm crazy. The two are intertwined, separated by a VERY thin line. I willing to bet the most creative people anyone knows are also the most 'eccentric'. Reply
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