PrincessBandit
27th June 2010, 22:34
This could explain quite a lot about some people.......
(from stuff today):
.....But there could be a more sinister reason some people are attracted to the purring feline: a parasite in cats that could alter a person's personality if they catch it.
According to infectious disease expert Kevin Lafferty, the parasiteToxoplasma gondii could make infected women kinder and infected men less intelligent.
Scientists first discovered that toxoplasma could alter behaviour in rodents, Dr Lafferty said.
Once an animal becomes infected, the parasite makes its way to the brain where it provokes the immune system, causing a series of chemical events that alter the level of dopamine in the brain.
Studies showed that rats infected with the parasite were more active and less fearful of cats.
Although this behaviour sounds strangely suicidal, Dr Lafferty said it was fuelled by the parasite's need to survive.
While the parasite can live outside the body of a cat, it can mate and reproduce only inside the intestines of felines.
So by altering a rat's behaviour, the parasite was trying to increase the chances it would be eaten by a cat so it could complete its life cycle, said Dr Lafferty, who works at the US Geological Survey.
Parasitologist Dr Nicky Boulter, who studied Toxoplasma gondiifor five years, said although it was clear that infected rats were drawn to cats, the science hadn't proven this was why some humans were attracted to them.
But she said research over the past decade had shown the influence the parasite could have on human behaviour.
When women infected with the parasite were given an IQ test, researchers found they were smarter and more conforming than non-infected females. The same tests revealed that infected men were less intelligent and prone to novelty-seeking behaviour.
OMG, the humble purring moggy which uses me for it's own purposes (well, all three of our have me pretty well trained) could be making me smarter but more conforming..... conniving little fleabags!!
(from stuff today):
.....But there could be a more sinister reason some people are attracted to the purring feline: a parasite in cats that could alter a person's personality if they catch it.
According to infectious disease expert Kevin Lafferty, the parasiteToxoplasma gondii could make infected women kinder and infected men less intelligent.
Scientists first discovered that toxoplasma could alter behaviour in rodents, Dr Lafferty said.
Once an animal becomes infected, the parasite makes its way to the brain where it provokes the immune system, causing a series of chemical events that alter the level of dopamine in the brain.
Studies showed that rats infected with the parasite were more active and less fearful of cats.
Although this behaviour sounds strangely suicidal, Dr Lafferty said it was fuelled by the parasite's need to survive.
While the parasite can live outside the body of a cat, it can mate and reproduce only inside the intestines of felines.
So by altering a rat's behaviour, the parasite was trying to increase the chances it would be eaten by a cat so it could complete its life cycle, said Dr Lafferty, who works at the US Geological Survey.
Parasitologist Dr Nicky Boulter, who studied Toxoplasma gondiifor five years, said although it was clear that infected rats were drawn to cats, the science hadn't proven this was why some humans were attracted to them.
But she said research over the past decade had shown the influence the parasite could have on human behaviour.
When women infected with the parasite were given an IQ test, researchers found they were smarter and more conforming than non-infected females. The same tests revealed that infected men were less intelligent and prone to novelty-seeking behaviour.
OMG, the humble purring moggy which uses me for it's own purposes (well, all three of our have me pretty well trained) could be making me smarter but more conforming..... conniving little fleabags!!