Did you know a good support group actually has a biochemical impact in the brain?
It's true, and the proof stems from concordance rate studies (which generally involve MZ twins).
Example:
take a pair of MZ (identical) twins
remember that MZ twims share 100% of the same genetics
both twins can go through the same traumatic experience, however can have very different support systems throughout those times
for the sake of this example, let's say a pair of twins lose a parent during their freshman year of college.
One twin attends college in the Northeast, while the other attends college on the West Coast.
The twin on the West Coast has developed a strong support-network, and socially speaking is adjusting just fine to their new surroundings. She has formed strong bonds with some of her classmates, and exhibits a host of healthy relationships in her daily interactions.
Let's say the twin located in the Northeast is more reticent in nature; her shy personality has hindered her ability to make friends, unlike her sister on the West Coast. She has a hard time opening up to people due to her shyness, and therefore has not become socially acclimated to her new academic setting. When tragedy strikes and she is forced to bereave the loss of a parent, she does not have the same network of students her own age to help provide her with emotional support, unlike her other sister.
Years later, the twin who attended school in the NE is diagnosed with schizophrenia, while the other twin remains just fine. This doesn't make sense though, right? After all, if they both posess the same genotype, then shouldn't both twins fall ill with schizophrenia? Seeing as though both have the exact genetic makeup (yet only one got schizophrenia), it is apparent that environment plays a tremendous role that cannot be unaccounted for. It has been discovered that if one MZ twin has schizophrenia, there is a 50& chance the other will obtain it as well.
So it appears (in regards to this specific example) that the schizophrenia can be traced back to the support system's in which accompanied (or in the case of the NE twin, unaccompanied either twin throughout these times of hardship. Both twins were born with the same trait in which could have been activated by certain environmental factors.
It's true, and the proof stems from concordance rate studies (which generally involve MZ twins).
Example:
take a pair of MZ (identical) twins
remember that MZ twims share 100% of the same genetics
both twins can go through the same traumatic experience, however can have very different support systems throughout those times
for the sake of this example, let's say a pair of twins lose a parent during their freshman year of college.
One twin attends college in the Northeast, while the other attends college on the West Coast.
The twin on the West Coast has developed a strong support-network, and socially speaking is adjusting just fine to their new surroundings. She has formed strong bonds with some of her classmates, and exhibits a host of healthy relationships in her daily interactions.
Let's say the twin located in the Northeast is more reticent in nature; her shy personality has hindered her ability to make friends, unlike her sister on the West Coast. She has a hard time opening up to people due to her shyness, and therefore has not become socially acclimated to her new academic setting. When tragedy strikes and she is forced to bereave the loss of a parent, she does not have the same network of students her own age to help provide her with emotional support, unlike her other sister.
Years later, the twin who attended school in the NE is diagnosed with schizophrenia, while the other twin remains just fine. This doesn't make sense though, right? After all, if they both posess the same genotype, then shouldn't both twins fall ill with schizophrenia? Seeing as though both have the exact genetic makeup (yet only one got schizophrenia), it is apparent that environment plays a tremendous role that cannot be unaccounted for. It has been discovered that if one MZ twin has schizophrenia, there is a 50& chance the other will obtain it as well.
So it appears (in regards to this specific example) that the schizophrenia can be traced back to the support system's in which accompanied (or in the case of the NE twin, unaccompanied either twin throughout these times of hardship. Both twins were born with the same trait in which could have been activated by certain environmental factors.
No comments:
Post a Comment