Genes for psychosis and creativity: a promoter polymorphism of the neuregulin 1 gene is related to creativity in people with high intellectual achievement.
Why are genetic polymorphisms related to severe mental disorders retained in the gene pool of a population? A possible answer is that these genetic variations may have a positive impact on psychological functions. Here, I show that a biologically relevant polymorphism of the promoter region of the neuregulin 1 gene (SNP8NRG243177/rs6994992) is associated with creativity in people with high intellectual and academic performance. Intriguingly, the highest creative achievements and creative-thinking scores were found in people who carried the T/T genotype, which was previously shown to be related to psychosis risk and altered prefrontal activation.
Kéri
Szabolcs
S
Semmelweis University, Budapest H1083, Hungary. szkeri@phys.szote.u-szeged.hu
D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D003405:Creativity; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D020890:Neuregulin-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000235:genetics*
C094131:NRG1 protein, human; D020890:Neuregulin-1