The orbitofrontal cortex is the outer strip of the brain just above the eyes, while the ventral striatum is the deep structure in the center of the brain. These are also where the pleasure sense is processed such as the so-called ‘sweet tooth’ and sexual stimuli. If you have a bigger concentration of grey matter in these areas (i.e., more brain tissue), then you are a ‘people person.’ It goes without saying, of course, that people with such brain-cell containing tissues may skip the expensive training seminars on people skills that lifestyle and personality enhancement gurus make a lot of money off on.

A research published in the European Journal of Neuroscience confirms that there is a link between a concentration of grey matter and social reward dependence. A warm and sentimental person just has more grey matter, so to speak. Does this mean that being a social butterfly has something to do with more tissues in the brain, while loners have less of such? It seems that science now explains the answer to be yes. The paper ‘The brain structural disposition to social interaction’ will be published in the 20 May 2009 edition of the European Journal of Neuroscience.

This study can be a cornerstone in new conclusions related to psychiatric disorders such as autism or schizophrenia which are marked by measurements in social interaction. Brain structure may yet explain the degree of emotional closeness of human beings.

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Via EurekAlert!

Two days ago there was news of birth of genetically screened baby for breast cancer. It felt good that some diseases could be eliminated at genetic level itself. But this news of prenatal screening for Autism is truly distressing. Do we really want a world without spectrum of intelligence and personalities? Autism is not a killer disease! Everyone including people with different autistic, schizophrenic and other mental conditions have a right to live, perceive and relate to world differently. Also who decides what is normal?

Autism is neither a disease nor an illness. Autistic children are gifted. Autistic children and adults can be geniuses and have high imagination power. Einstein was autistic, so were many artists and writers. Such a screening for Autism and option of terminating pregnancy will not be ethical.

World with designer, tailor made babies will be not be much different. Upbringing and parenting is the crucial part. Parents who don’t have patience and courage to bring up differently abled child will not be able to bring up normal child too. Life is not a race course with children as ponies being groomed for races. Let us not head for an uncreative competitive world with no creative streaks of imagination and madness.

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