Creativity linked to schizophrenia gene

A mutation of the neuregulin 1 gene may unleash creative potential in some and psychotic delusions in others, research shows. Szabolcs Kéri, a researcher from the Semmelweis University in Budapest, Hungary, examined the gene neuregulin 1, which previous studies have linked to a slightly increased risk of schizophrenia. About 50% of healthy Europeans have one copy of this mutation, while 15% possess two copies, Kéri says. To determine exactly how these variations affected creativity he genotyped 200 adults who responded to adverts seeking creative and accomplished volunteers. He gave the volunteers two tests of creative thinking, and devised an objective score of their creative achievements, such as filing a patent or writing a book. People with two copies of the neuregulin 1 mutation tended to score 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 than volunteers without the mutation. The mutation explained between 3 and 8% of the differences in creativity, Kéri says. Those with two copies of the mutation were also no more likely than others to possess schizotypal traits....