We all like to think of ourselves as totally unique, independent individuals, in charge of our own destinies. But new research has found evidence that our behavior, and maybe even our personalities, could be influenced by something totally unexpected - our immune systems.
Researchers have shown that by switching off just one immune molecule in mice, they can change the way the animals behave and interact with each other - which suggests the immune system may play a role in conditions such as autism-spectrum disorder or schizophrenia.
However, this is early research that's only been conducted in rodents for now. But the researchers from the University of Virginia School of Medicine were able to clearly show that by simply changing the way the immune system responds to pathogens, they could trigger antisocial behavior in mice.
Restoring the molecule returned the mouse personalities to normal.
http://www.sciencealert.com/freaky-...ne-system-could-be-controlling-your-behaviour
Researchers have shown that by switching off just one immune molecule in mice, they can change the way the animals behave and interact with each other - which suggests the immune system may play a role in conditions such as autism-spectrum disorder or schizophrenia.
However, this is early research that's only been conducted in rodents for now. But the researchers from the University of Virginia School of Medicine were able to clearly show that by simply changing the way the immune system responds to pathogens, they could trigger antisocial behavior in mice.
Restoring the molecule returned the mouse personalities to normal.
http://www.sciencealert.com/freaky-...ne-system-could-be-controlling-your-behaviour