The not-so-gloomy gene
The fact that people with a negative outlook on life possess a certain gene variant, the short version of the 5-HTTLPR serotonin-transporter gene, has always been known. But a recent study conducted at the University of Essex has revealed that the very same gene could inspire positive thoughts. Two groups of people- one representing the […]
The fact that people with a negative outlook on life possess a certain gene variant, the short version of the 5-HTTLPR serotonin-transporter gene, has always been known. But a recent study conducted at the University of Essex has revealed that the very same gene could inspire positive thoughts.
Two groups of people- one representing the short, “positive” gene variant and the other the long, gloom associated type – were invited to perform a set of computer exercises to establish how quickly they could identify a target superimposed either on a positive or negative image displayed side by side.
Some of the pictures secretly highlighted the positive or the negative aspect of the images, and it appeared that people with the short variant responded to the negative bias, while the reactions of the long gene variant guinea pigs barely changed, meaning that folks perceived to be miserable fair better in seeing things from the bright side.
