New findings published in the journal Neuron suggest a molecular link in the brain between intelligence and curiosity.
Based on research conducted by NARSAD Distinguished Investigator John Roder, Ph.D., of the Samuel Lumenfeld Research Institute of Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, the study examined the function of neuronal calcium sensor-1 (NCS-1), a protein implicated in memory among patients suffering from bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
When increased by one-and-a-half fold in mouse models, Dr. Roder's team discovered that subjects experienced increase memory and ability to complete complex tasks.
Dr. Roder was awarded his 2006 NARSAD grant to study the genetic risks of schizophrenia, specifically as a result of a malfunction of the DISC1 gene.
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