Creativity and psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, share genetic roots according to a new study.
Researchers analyzed genetic data from over 150,000 Icelanders who were healthy, or had been diagnosed with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. They found that the same genetic variants associated with increased risk of mental disorders also predicted whether Icelanders, free from any psychiatric diagnoses, were members of the Icelandic national artistic societies of actors, dancers, musicians, visual artists and writers.
The researchers conclude that genetic factors that increase the propensity for certain mental illnesses may also increase the creative aptitudes of healthy people.
Original research paper published in Nature Neuroscience on June 8, 2015.
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