Linking unfounded beliefs to genetic dopamine availability

[diva77]

Linking unfounded beliefs to genetic dopamine availability

Front. Hum. Neurosci., 30 September 2015 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2015.00521

snip...Unfounded convictions involving beliefs in the paranormal, grandiosity ideas or suspicious thoughts are endorsed at varying degrees among the general population. Here, we investigated the neurobiopsychological basis of the observed inter-individual variability in the propensity toward unfounded beliefs.

One hundred two healthy individuals were genotyped for four polymorphisms in the COMT gene (rs6269, rs4633, rs4818, and rs4680, also known as val158met) that define common functional haplotypes with substantial impact on synaptic dopamine degradation, completed a questionnaire measuring unfounded beliefs, and took part in a behavioral experiment assessing perceptual inference.

We found that greater dopamine availability was associated with a stronger propensity toward unfounded beliefs, and that this effect was statistically mediated by an enhanced influence of expectations on perceptual inference. Our results indicate that genetic differences in dopaminergic neurotransmission account for inter-individual differences in perceptual inference linked to the formation and maintenance of unfounded beliefs. Thus, dopamine might be critically involved in the processes underlying one's interpretation of the relationship between the self and the world...snip

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Makes me wonder about our current political situation....hmmmm

[ananda]

1. Ugghh

This is utter bs.

It operates on certain assumptions that are totally false.

Some people have valid knowledge of the paranormal, and it
it is simply a matter of experience.

I don't know whether dopamine plays a part in this or not,
but experience is still just experience.

[diva77]

2. I was interested in the "grandiosity of ideas" part

I'm not buying that the study is "utter bs" -- I think it yielded important info. that could be further studied. Could be helpful for trying to understand some of the behavior in politics these days.

[KittyWampus]

3. when I decide to go for a car drive gas goes into the gas tank, the ignition turns on the engine

using that gas and the vehicle I am driving goes where I want.

The fact that gasoline enables the vehicle to drive doesn't take away the fact that I, the driver, am the one deciding where to go.

If I did not have a car, my feet would have to suffice. I can't go as far on my feet as in a car. But I am still deciding where to go.

Regardless of the chemicals involved and the biology, it's still the person driving my body that is most important.

Unless you are really a strict materialist. But nobody is really a strict materialist in actuality.

No one is going to look at their date and say "I want to satisfy my sexual urges on you because my sex hormones are in control of my behavior".

[58Sunliner]

4. Didn't read the article but wonder if lack of ability to

utilize dopamine causes problems, hence excess dopamine.