People with high IQ and psychosis tend to have a higher intellectual capacity for dealing with psychotic experiences. Experiencing these feelings is not enough because you also need to communicate them.

People who have two copies of neuregulin 1 mutation tend to score significantly higher on these creativity measures compared with the rest of the volunteers with no or one copy of the mutation. Participants with a single copy were judged, on average, to be more creative than those volunteers with no mutation. The mutation explained between 3% and 8% of the differences in terms of creativity.

It is unclear how creativity is affected by neuregulin 1. Those with two mutation copies were no more likely compared to others to have the so-called schizotypal traits like odd speech patterns, inappropriate emotions, and paranoia. It would suggest that the connection of the mutation to mental illness doesn’t completely explain its link to creativity.

Experts examined a gene called neuregulin 1 that plays a role in the development of the brain and something that past studies connected with a somewhat higher risk of schizophrenia. In addition, one DNA letter mutation affecting the amount of neuregulin 1 protein that the brain produces has been associated with sensitivity to criticism, poor memory, and psychosis.

Researchers speculated instead that the mutation dampens the region of the brain that reins in behavior and mood, known as the prefrontal cortex. Such change can unleash some people’s creative potential but for others, it might trigger psychotic delusions. Intelligence is probably one factor that determines if the neuregulin 1 mutation can enhance creativity or contribute to psychosis. The volunteers tended to be smarter than average. Conversely, the study of another family with schizophrenic history discovered that a similar mutation was linked with psychotic symptoms and lower intelligence.

Neuregulin 1 Mutation and How It Dampens the Brain

Other experts agree that the effects of the gene are possibly influenced by some cognitive factors like intelligence. However, it doesn’t mean that creativity and psychosis are the same. There seems to always be this somewhat romantic idea that genius and madness are the flip sides of a coin. However, madness is usually madness without a genetic connection to intelligence.

Influence of Intelligence

You might have heard of the stereotyped tortured artists, from the likes of Sylvia Plath to Salvador Dali. Now, new studies seem to show the reason for this: creativity and artistic tendencies are also influenced by a genetic mutation associated with schizophrenia and psychosis. The discovery can help explain why mutations increasing the risk of a person developing mental illnesses like bipolar syndrome and schizophrenia have been conserved, even favored, throughout human evolution.

Link Between Art And Schizophrenia Gene

To identify how creativity is affected by the variations, researchers genotyped 200 adults who replied to the ads seeking accomplished and creative volunteers. They also gave two creative thinking tests to the volunteers and came up with an objective score of the creative achievements they had like writing a book or filing a patent.

Creative Thinking and Neuregulin 1

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