Brain scans show that creative minds 'mimic schizophrenia'

[snagglepuss]

Brain scans reveal striking similarities in the thought pathways of highly creative people and those with schizophrenia.

Both groups lack important receptors used to filter and direct thought.

snip

Creative people, like those with psychotic illnesses, tend to see the world differently to most. It's like looking at a shattered mirror.

snip

This would explain how highly creative people manage to see unusual connections in problem-solving situations that other people miss.


Read more at

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10154775

[ixion]

1. "Both groups lack important receptors"

Oh, I don't know. If you can't be creative with them, they seem more detrimental than important.

[TalkingDog]

5. Took me a second...

but I got it. After all I'm a creative type....

[demguy72340]

19. of course

[FirstLight]

2. gawd, don't tell my parents!

they've been saying my creativity is a sign of 'something' for a long time! :rofl:

[MADem]

3. Hmmm....so there's a fine line between a brilliant plan and a tinfoil hat!

I thought this sentence was interesting; I guess this is why some mentally ill people refuse to take their meds--they feel smarter without them:

"Fewer D2 receptors in the thalamus probably means a lower degree of signal filtering, and thus a higher flow of information from the thalamus," said Professor Ullen.

[TalkingDog]

6. You should read up on Low Latent Inhibition... this seems to have some connection.

I'm creative and have low latent inhibition... It's sensory overload. I can see how some people with less processing power in the grey matter could have trouble.

I have often told family and friends that if I expressed everything that popped into my head, I would probably end up in an institution. It truly might be that the ability, learned or instinctive, to constrain those impulses, is all that keeps artists out of insane asylums.

[TheDebbieDee]

4. I remember hearing a simular theory several years while watching

a biography of Van Gogh.......it was theorized that many of the greatest artists throughout history straddle a thin line between being artistic geniuses and batshit crazy!

[azul]

7. Now we determine what compounds or conditions affect the expression of the genes

to produce more or less of this receptor protein, the epi-genetic controls of these genes. Then people that are dysfunctionally creative can be made less so, and creativity could be dialed-in for the adventurous spirits of limited imagination to experience more or differently.

[drokhole]

8. "The schizophrenic is drowning in the same waters in which the mystic swims with delight."

- Joseph Campbell

I thought they were on to as much in the 50s/60s with research in psychedelics. Aldous Huxley touched on it brilliantly with "The Doors of Perception," as did Alan Watts, Terence McKenna, Joseph Campbell (who focused mainly on the similarities between it and early shamanism), and Robert Anton Wilson (among others). Those authors in particular pointed to many similarities reported between some of history's most "creative" artists/authors, psychedelic/meditative experience, and schizophrenia itself. It's a shame that further studies have been effectively banned for the past 40 years, especially considering the potentially ground-breaking progress to be made in the areas of the mind (and science, as a few posts in this thread suggests - http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=228x81966).

One of the more recently sanctioned studies in "hallucinogens" was performed by Dr. Rick Strassman with DMT, which he turned into a book called DMT: The Spirit Molecule - a highly recommended and fascinating read.

[RagAss]

21. So true...it's just a matter of recognizing the true nature of reality....which is not ordered.

We just order it for purposes of comfort.

[bemildred]

9. Being "nuts" can be a matter of lacking due respect for social conventions and taboos.

So can be being a "genius".

Also, being "sane" can be a matter of knowing what to keep to yourself.

[Phlem]

10. I'm a creative, employed, 3D artist with PTSD

Diagnosed with "Hyper Vigilance" :http://www.help4trauma.org/hypervigilance.html.

This trauma happened early in my youth so I've been doing the "Hyper Vigilance" for some time.

The hyper vigilance skill, coupled with my creativity, and sometimes I swear I can see the future.

For example I'm good with faces, really good, to the point where if my safety were concerned, I could tell if someone's lying to me or a host of other possible scenarios.

Seeing *Shrubs* face after his faux victory lap in 2001, I knew beyond any reason of a doubt, this country was fucked and voiced it to my wife. Which I like to rub in her face every now and then.

That being said, I'm always exhausted and low in patience with "slower people".

That's the only way I can describe it, I don't mean to put myself on a pedestal when I say "slow people" cause I know damn well I could be missing something.

But the thing is I can see all kinds of possible connections to things that a lot of family and friends would glaze over. Sometimes it's really cool and happy like when I'm reading my science publications, but most of the time since, I've been paying attention to politics, it's been disheartening and sad.

The only thing I cling to everyday is the hope of a brighter tomorrow for my daughter and I doing what I can to ensure that

As for all the other stuff, I don't know if it's a blessing or a curse.

-p

PS.. I was totally going psychotic in my early youth till I started smoking weed. All of a sudden everything made sense.

I hope this helps anyone on this board with similar problems.

[snagglepuss]

11. I have PTSD with extreme hyper viligience and I'm highly sensitive i.e.

unable to bear loud noises, bright lights, lack of solitude. For many years I was baffled by my behavior and often stayed as secluded as possible for long periods of time. Therapy has helped considerably however I'm always trying to find out more about this condition. Just after a brief glance the site you've linked looks very interesting. Thanks for posting.

[Phlem]

12. I'm so sorry

I can't even imagine.

I know we are kindred spirits and the one thing I've always known to be true, there's always a silver lining, always an alternate dimension where your are truly happy, and you can make this your reality.

Peace to your soul.

-p

[snagglepuss]

13. I don't think alternate dimensions are a solution. Being happy in some sort

solopistic la-la land is not an attractive option and reminds me of the Bush cult boasting about not being part of the reality based community . To my mind that way lies complete madness.

[Phlem]

14. I didn't intend it to that end

I was implying that, my way out of the rabbit hole doesn't mean I'm out, it's just that now I can observe measurable difference between my actions.

To this end I choose happiness in letting go and being in control. Letting go of things I can't affect yet observing the things that I can. And to this I put energy into the positive.

Things don't turn out as they should 100% of the time but relying on my hyper vigilance to sort it out points me into a direction and a bowl helps me play it out to it's end peacefully. Meaning that is my cause and effect.

Find the path to joy my friend, that is all I intend. It's in the life you have now.

-p

[Phlem]

15. Meaning

that you do no harm to yourself or others.

-p

[Odin2005]

16. The distinction between genius and insanity is blurry.

[bemildred]

17. And arbitrary and really just a social convention with little actual relation to reality.

Whatever that is.

[LeftishBrit]

18. There has been evidence for some time...

for genetic relationships between creativity and mental illness. For example, creative achievers have more relatives with mental illness than 'controls' do. Nancy Andreasen's 'The Creating Brain' and Gordon Claridge's 'Origins of Mental Illness' give interesting accounts of the topic. Also see Kay Jamison's 'Touched by Fire', about possible relationships between creativity and bipolar disorder.

[mzmolly]

20. Interesting.

Thanks. :)