(1970)
This comparative study of Icelanders, born during the period 1881-1910, indicates that
close relatives of psychotic individuals have a significantly increased probability of being
considered persons of eminence. Their rate of listing in Who Is Who is doubled, both in
regard to general listings and those based on artistic or scholastic endeavors. Review of
relevant literature supports the view that the dominant principal gene proposed for schizophrenia may in a heterozygous state lead to cerebral stimulation, with improved performance
in areas of giftedness and creativity.
While authorities in the behavioral fields have majority of geneticists interested in this field agree
often been inclined to discount the importance of that the most likely basic mode of transmission
hereditary factors in personality development, for schizophrenia is dominant inheritance (BOOK
geneticists have generally recognized that children 1953; HUXLEYet al. 1965; KARLSSON1966),
are born with varying mental potentials. Longi- although additional modifying factors must be
tudinal studies have supported the existence of postulated to account for the total family pattern
behavioral differences in infants which persist of psychosis. The present author has previously
during subsequent growth (THOMAS
et al. 1968). favored a two locus mechanism based on a
Studies of monozygotic twins reared apart have dominant principal gene and a recessive secondary
indicated that the personality traits of each pair gene, but new data gathered in Iceland do not
tend to rsmain alike despite early separation support this hypothesis, but rather suggest a
(NEWMASet al. 1937; SHIELDS1962; JUEL- system requiring two separate dominant genes
NIELSEN
1965). Correlation studies of intelligence (KARLSSON
1970 b). In this latter system the less
tests have also shown that no other relatives, frequent of the two genes, being the one whose
although reared together, come close to attaining presence or absence is easier to demonstrate, is
as similar scores as monozygotic twins, even if considered to be the principal gene.
These developments have paved the way tothey are reared apart (ERLENMEYER-KIMLING
and
JARVIK1963). However, specific genetic studies in ward a more specific study of genetic factors
this area have been assumed to be rather im- involved in the development of basic personality
practical, as one would guess that many factors traits. Individuals can be identified who are likely
are involved and that the total picture is quite to carry only the principal gene of schizophrenia,
and while such persons do not develop psychosis,
complex.
Recent studies of the family transmission of there are indications that their personalities differ
schizophrenia have led to the conclusion that from those of non-carriers (KARLSSON
1968). It
genetic factors are of principal importance in that has been proposed that the gene in question may
disorder. The elevated risk of psychosis in close be involved in the physiologic regulation of the
relatives of schizophrenic index cases appears to arousal system of the brain, thus helping to
remain unchanged even if they are reared away explain how simple genetic variations can lead to
from their biologic families (HESTON 1966; profound personality differences.
The present paper presents additional evidence
ROSENTHAL
et al. 1968; KARLSSON
1970 a). The
Hereditas 66,1970
178
J ~ LOVE
N
KARLSSON
in support of the view that carriers of the proposed principal gene of schizophrenia tend to be
relatively gifted or creative.
General population
Kindred 1
Kindred 2
Kindred 3
First degree relatives
Fathers
Brothers
Sons
Second degree relatives
Uncles
Nephews
281213
13/85
1411 12
1/16
271149
10169
17/80
16/69
4/16
613 1
6/22
13/55
6/24
713 1
1959
698
722
539
282
101
143
38
204
93
111
Per cent
rate of
listing
9.2
10.7
6.5
10.9
15.6
16.8
14.0
18.4
19.6*
17.2
21.6
179
Table 2. Listings in Who Is Who for creativity among randomly selected Icelandic males and among
first and second degree male relatives of psychotic patients, all born in the interval 1881-1910
Description of group
General population
Relatives of
psychotic propositi
Kindred 1
Kindred 2
Kindred 3
Schizophrenic
Manic
depressive
698
75
7
2
I
0
3
I
0
722
47
3
3
0
0
539
59
3
2
362
55
5
2
1
124
29
6
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
2
13/1959 =0.7%,*
0
0
11/486=2.3%*
Table 3. Comparison of the per cent incidence of psychosis and of giftedness for each generation in
the different branches of Kindred 1
The numbers in parentheses are based on either one or two cases, and blanks indicate that no psychosis or giftedness
is recorded
Gene- Branch A
raN=1488
tion
Schizo- Giftedphrenia ness
11
Ill
IV
V
VI
VII
Average*
(12.5)
(4.8)
(2.1)
4.7
3.6
1.7
(25.0)
(4.8)
8.3
2.3
7.5
5.6
2.6
6.0
Branch B
Branch C
N = 1141
N =648
Branch D
N = 807
Branch E
N = I64
Branch F
N =278
Schizo- Gifted- Schizo- Gifted- Schizo- Gifted- Schizo- Gifted- Schizo- Giftedphrenia ness
phrenia ness
phrenia ness
phrenia ness
phrenia ness
-
(1.2)
2.4
1.7
(10.0)
11.6
7.2
5.4
4.8
1.7
5.6
--~
(0.4)
0.7
(2.6)
(1.1)
1.9
2.4
(4.2)
(2.5)
3.2
2.8
(0.5)
0.5
2.1
1.6
.
.
.
.
--~--
~~
~~
. -
-.
(1.1)
(4.8)
(2.8)
6.0
4.1
4.3
3.3
2.3
(1.0)
4.0
__
(1.5)
(1.4)
2.2
(0.6)
2.4
1.1
Overall rates for the kindred are 1.6 per cent recorded psychosis and 4.0 per cent listings in Who Is Who.
180
J ~ LOVE
N
KARLSSON
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12