@article{130451,
  keywords = {Humans, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Cluster Analysis, Adult, Young Adult, Child, Genetic Linkage, Family, Career Choice, Education, Bipolar Disorder, Child Development Disorders, Pervasive, Depressive Disorder, Major, Mental Disorders, Personality, Personality Disorders, Students, Substance-Related Disorders},
  author = {Benjamin Campbell and Samuel Wang},
  title = {Familial linkage between neuropsychiatric disorders and intellectual interests},
  abstract = { From personality to neuropsychiatric disorders, individual differences in brain function are known to have a strong heritable component. Here we report that between close relatives, a variety of neuropsychiatric disorders covary strongly with intellectual interests. We surveyed an entire class of high-functioning young adults at an elite university for prospective major, familial incidence of neuropsychiatric disorders, and demographic and attitudinal questions. Students aspiring to technical majors (science/mathematics/engineering) were more likely than other students to report a sibling with an autism spectrum disorder (p = 0.037). Conversely, students interested in the humanities were more likely to report a family member with major depressive disorder (p = 8.8{\texttimes}10(-4)), bipolar disorder (p = 0.027), or substance abuse problems (p = 1.9{\texttimes}10(-6)). A combined PREdisposition for Subject MattEr (PRESUME) score based on these disorders was strongly predictive of subject matter interests (p = 9.6{\texttimes}10(-8)). Our results suggest that shared genetic (and perhaps environmental) factors may both predispose for heritable neuropsychiatric disorders and influence the development of intellectual interests. },
  year = {2012},
  journal = {PLoS One},
  volume = {7},
  pages = {e30405},
  issn = {1932-6203},
  doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0030405},
  language = {eng},
}