Toxoplasma brain activity
Toxoplasma gondii is a common parasite that infects about 40% of the world’s population.
According to a recent study in Australia, it can increase a women's attractiveness to the opposite sex but also make men more stupid.
The infection in humans generally occurs when people eat raw or undercooked meat that has cysts containing the parasite, or accidentally ingest some of the parasite's eggs excreted by an infected cat.
The parasite is a dangerous to pregnant women as it can cause abortions or birth defects of the unborn child, and can also kill people whose immune systems are weakened.
Not until recently did research reveal its mind-altering properties.
But what is more interesting is the results of the study showing the effect of infection is different between men and women as Dr Boulter writes in a recent issue of Australasian Science magazine.
"Infected men have lower IQs, achieve a lower level of education and have shorter attention spans. They are also more likely to break rules and take risks, be more independent, more anti-social, suspicious, jealous and morose, and are deemed less attractive to women.”
"On the other hand, infected women tend to be more outgoing, friendly, more promiscuous, and are considered more attractive to men compared with non-infected controls.”
"In short, it can make men behave like alley cats and women behave like sex kittens".
This study was also backed up by a similar study in mice.
The mice were found to be more likely to take risks that increased their chance of being eaten by cats, which would allow the parasite to continue its life cycle and mice treated with drugs that killed the parasites reversed their behavior.
As always, the researches are requesting more government money to continue with more research.
According to a recent study in Australia, it can increase a women's attractiveness to the opposite sex but also make men more stupid.
The infection in humans generally occurs when people eat raw or undercooked meat that has cysts containing the parasite, or accidentally ingest some of the parasite's eggs excreted by an infected cat.
The parasite is a dangerous to pregnant women as it can cause abortions or birth defects of the unborn child, and can also kill people whose immune systems are weakened.
Not until recently did research reveal its mind-altering properties.
But what is more interesting is the results of the study showing the effect of infection is different between men and women as Dr Boulter writes in a recent issue of Australasian Science magazine.
"Infected men have lower IQs, achieve a lower level of education and have shorter attention spans. They are also more likely to break rules and take risks, be more independent, more anti-social, suspicious, jealous and morose, and are deemed less attractive to women.”
"On the other hand, infected women tend to be more outgoing, friendly, more promiscuous, and are considered more attractive to men compared with non-infected controls.”
"In short, it can make men behave like alley cats and women behave like sex kittens".
This study was also backed up by a similar study in mice.
The mice were found to be more likely to take risks that increased their chance of being eaten by cats, which would allow the parasite to continue its life cycle and mice treated with drugs that killed the parasites reversed their behavior.
As always, the researches are requesting more government money to continue with more research.
Labels: infections, interesting
posted by Anonymous at 5:58 AM
3 Comments:
"According to a recent study in Australia, it can increase a women's attractiveness to the opposite sex but also make men more stupid."
Have you been tested for this parasite?
Well, at least I know what is wrong with me now.
Must be a snowday somewhere. Looks like the anonymous kiddies are online again...
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