Friday, August 31, 2012

It's all in our heads

The "warrior gene" in men might be the "happy gene" in women

I believe this gene is a vital switch.  Due to its effects on dopamine function- it could be responsible for much of the variation in symptomology of certain mental illnesses.
For example narcolepsy presents more in women, but schizophrenia presents more in males.  Are these similar pathologies but the symptoms are skewed along a gender continuum?

I really want to get this gene tested.  Maybe my 5-HTTLPR gene too.

And not to nitpick or anything, but why do y'all always assume testosterone is the sex hormone to invoke?   Estrogen has quite a few interesting biochemical and neurological effects, too.