Though the link between creative genius and mental illness is often accepted as conventional wisdom, a new study presents evidence that the association has a genetic basis. Polygenic risk scores for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder were found to be higher in members of national artistic societies than in nonmembers. A similar effect arose in people whose creativity was assessed via a questionnaire about artistic pursuits. The correlation between creativity and the genetic risk of psychosis disorders could not be explained by differences in cognitive function, education or family history of schizophrenia.
References
Power, R. A. et al. Polygenic risk scores for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder predict creativity. Nat. Neurosci. 10.1038/nn.4040
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A common genetic basis for creativity and psychosis?. Nat Rev Neurol 11, 369 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneurol.2015.107
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneurol.2015.107