Almost every other day, we come across drivers who just cannot seem to pick a lane.
Or motorists who love to erratically cut us off without using turn signals, leaving us all wondering, “who in the world taught them how to drive!”
However, for some, driving comes naturally. They can parallel park with ease and change lanes without a second thought.
So, what explains this difference? Are driving skills genetic?
Well, it turns out that some people are just born drivers, and it’s their genes that need to be blamed!
Like most other traits, driving too is heavily influenced by your surroundings.
Firstly, it depends on your training as a driver - whether you were trained in a good motor training school by a skilled driving teacher.
To become a good driver, you not only need to acquire a certain skill set but also practice them to gain perfection.
Films and movies are also a big influence on young people.
Rash and reckless driving are often promoted in films, and safe driving is considered uncool.
Young people who mimic actors and follow their styles and behaviors on screen are often influenced by this.
A history of road accidents can also affect your driving style.
It may induce fear and apprehension during driving in some people.
This can affect their ability to make quick decisions and hamper their judgments.
While such external factors impact your driving skills to an extent, certain
The BDNF gene contains instructions for producing a protein found in the brain and spinal cord called the brain-derived neurotrophic factor.
This protein is critical for the growth and differentiation of brain cells.
BDNF also supports a person's memory by regulating communication between brain cells and keeping them in peak shape.
When driving, BDNF is secreted in the particular brain region involved in support activities surrounding driving.
If the BDNF gene has any errors, then BDNF protein secretion may be lower.
Thus, your brain may not be able to support the activity you’re involved in at its best.
If this happens in the area that controls driving, you may not be able to remember information regarding driving well and thus may drive poorly.
According to this study, led by Dr. Cramer, a neurology professor at the University of California Irvine, those with a common genetic change scored 20 percent worse in a driving simulator than their counterparts.
The study included 29 subjects who were tested in a driving simulator.
With the simulator, the subjects had to steer the car centered along a black line with their hands in the 10-2 position.
They had to steer to turn the car before the screen actually changed.
The tests were conducted over the course of 15 laps, during which all subjects showed improvement in their driving.
The T allele variant, also known as the Val66Met, causes a lower production of the BDNF protein.
This results in the stimulation of a minor part of the brain during certain types of activity, such as driving.
Dr. Cramer mentions, “Those with the T allele make more errors from the get-go, and they forget more of what they learned after time away.”
But there also seems to be an upside to carrying the Val66Met variant.
Studies report a beneficial effect of this variant on cognition in people with Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, lupus, and multiple sclerosis.
Like most human traits, driving is a trait that comes naturally to some people.
While these people drive like they were born to do it, others struggle to simply stick to a lane.
Turns out, certain genes influence whether you shape up to be a good or bad driver.
The BDNF gene that supports communication between brain cells is one such example.
The T allele variant of this gene, also known as the Val66Met variant, results in lowered production of the BDNF protein.
This is associated with reduced brain stimulation in certain instances, such as driving, making some people naturally bad drivers than others.
Neuroticism is a negative personality trait that reflects an individual’s emotional stability.
People with this trait find it difficult to control their emotions, have poor self-regulation, and have trouble dealing with stress.
Individuals who are neurotic also become easily aroused or stimulated and find it difficult to calm themselves down.
Neuroticism is considered one of the ‘Big Five personality traits with extraversion, openness, conscientiousness, and agreeableness.
Common neurotic traits that are observed in people at the higher end of the spectrum include:
Image: Top 7 traits of Neuroticism
Due to the unpredictability and a tendency for negative behavior among people with neuroticism, they may find it difficult to maintain relationships, especially marital ones.
Few reasons why people with neuroticism may rattle those around them:
A study published in Molecular Psychiatry in 2016 found new gene associations linked to neuroticism.
These genetic links indicate an individual’s tendency to develop neuroticism.
People with neuroticism also tend to develop conditions like anxiety, depression, obesity, and heart disease.
Though several places in our genes may contribute to neuroticism traits, only 15% of neuroticism is determined by genetics.
This means the remaining 85% is influenced by the environment.
This means that just because you have a genetic tendency for neuroticism, you will not positively develop it.
Further research is required to pinpoint the exact locations on the DNA responsible for this condition.
Variations in the cannabinoid receptor 1 or CNR1 gene, located on chromosome 6, have been associated with an increased risk of depression in some people in response to stressful situations.
Some variations in the CNR1 gene have been linked to high neuroticism and low agreeableness.
rs7766029 is a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the CNR1 gene that shows a significant interaction between negative life events and the risk for depression.
The common allelic variants, i.e., T carriers, are more vulnerable to negative life events and higher neuroticism than those having the rare allele (C).
Neuroticism modifies an individual’s behavior and affects every aspect of their life, from health to relationships. Here are some ways to manage and cope with neuroticism:
Though neuroticism is not a medical condition, most people with this personality trait have one or more psychological conditions. So, if you are struggling with neuroticism or behavior, seek professional help.
Treatments like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) may help you deal with negative emotions better.
It may seem difficult for people high on neuroticism to find positivity. However, believing that change is possible is one of the first steps to modifying their neurotic behavior.
When these individuals realize they have control over their emotions in stressful situations, the subsequent steps to modify their neuroticism will become easier.
People with neuroticism may benefit from mindfulness or meditation, which allows them to calm their minds and live in the present moment.
These practices also help reduce stress and lower blood pressure, calming the mind and body.
Individuals with neuroticism tend to get flustered easily as they don’t look at issues objectively.
Developing problem-solving skills will help them convert their negative emotions into constructive solutions rather than allowing their emotions to pile up.
People aware of their neuroticism are most often powerless when it comes to defeating their behavior. A good place to begin is by changing the way they talk to themselves.
Constant positive reinforcements can help modify underlying neurotic tendencies and replace them with optimistic thoughts.
Music is an arrangement of sound that fits into a particular harmony, rhythm, and beat.
Music is universal, and the world has seen exceptional musical talents over time.
How do some people create music, sing, or play an instrument like it is their second nature while others find themselves musically challenged?
While the environment the person grows up in and their practice play a major role in developing their musical talent, recent research suggests that musical ability could depend on genes.
This means that children could be born with the inherent talent to identify tunes or play an instrument early on, giving them an edge over the others as they grow up.
Studies claim that genes may determine about 40-50% of a person’s musical abilities.
There could be many genes that control musical abilities.
However, not all of them have been identified.
One particular gene associated with musical ability based on a genome-wide study was UDP Glycosyltransferase 8 (UGT8).
The UGT8 gene controls the production of the 2-hydroxyacylsphingosine 1-beta-galactosyltransferase enzyme.
This enzyme helps produce galactosylceramides.
Galactosylceramides are lipids that cover the myelin of the nerves in the central nervous system.
The myelin layer is responsible for transmitting signals between nerves.
A particular study analyzed the relationship between UGT8 gene variations and musical ability in the Mongolian population.
1008 individuals from 73 families were picked up for the study.
A pitch-production accuracy test was conducted to analyze their musical abilities.
A Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) in this gene, rs4148254, was found to be highly associated with musical ability.
A similar study was conducted amongst 234 people from 15 Finnish families.
The individuals were a mix of professional musicians, amateurs, and those who weren’t musically trained.
Three tests were used to measure auditory aptitude.
Here are the results of the test.
| Auditory test | Musical ability’s heritability % |
| Karma Music Test (KMT) | 42% |
| Seashore Pitch test (SP) | 57% |
| Seashore time discrimination test (ST) | 21% |
| Combined tests | 48% |
The tests show that musical ability could be inherited by up to 57%.
Therefore, a person having an absolute pitch or someone else with amusia (the inability to process music) could result from genetic changes.
Natural musical ability is genetically inherited, while nurtured ability depends on the environment and other external factors.
The practice has always been a key factor associated with succeeding in something.
So will practice help overcome genetic boundaries and make a person musically exceptional?
Here is where this gets very interesting.
Practice definitely helps improve skills.
However, a person’s ability to practice consistently may also be driven by genes!
This means that specific genotypes may push a person to practice more and enjoy the process of practicing.
This, in turn, may increase the chance of the person becoming an accomplished musician.
A study by David Z. Hambrick and Elliot M. Tucker-Drob analyzed the correlation between genes and environmental impacts on music accomplishment.
The results reported that "success may not always result from determination, hard work, or practice.
A person’s genes may play a more significant role than once assumed in helping the person succeed.
These researchers identified 850 same-sex twins and questioned them on their musical abilities and their practice schedule.
Here are some of the takeaways from the study.
Cognitive development is a process by which human beings begin to acquire, process, retain, and use knowledge.
Cognition includes vital skills like thinking, remembering, processing, decision making, and problem-solving.
Cognitive development starts while in the womb and continues well into adulthood.
Jean Piaget is one of the earliest influencers who researched cognitive development.
According to him, there are four stages of cognitive development.
Cognitive skills help individuals understand the relationship between ideas, understand cause and effect, process information analytically, and make the right decisions at the right time.
How is cognitive development built? Is it genetically inherited or learned with practice?
Recent studies show that 50 to 70% of variations in cognition could be due to genetic changes.
This means that as soon as a person is born, a major part of their cognitive abilities could be pre-decided.
This completely changes the game for social programs and educational processes to increase children's Intelligence Quotient.
So does social factors have no role to play in cognitive development? Yes, say researchers.
While genes influence children's cognitive abilities, their socio-economic background, environmental factors, and access to opportunities majorly determine whether they reach their cognitive potential.
For example, consider two children with similar genetic makeup.
Child A is economically superior, while child B comes from a low socio-economic background.
Child A may still show higher cognitive development because a better socio-economic background opens more avenues and gives them better opportunities to use resources, learn and train.
A 2013 study on genetic influences on cognition states that the influence of genes on cognitive ability is increased when the learning experiences are better.
This means that while nature plays a bigger role in determining a person's cognitive development, one cannot ignore the role of the environment and experiences.
Also, other external factors like nutrition and stress levels may affect the ability of a person to achieve their cognitive potential—more about this in the coming sections.
Cognitive skills like thinking, reasoning, processing and decision-making use different brain functions controlled by multiple genes in the body.
A 2018 study reported that about 709 previously identified genes, along with 148 newly identified genes, together may be associated with cognitive development.
There are also seven sets of genes identified that regulate the below functions.
Changes in these gene sets may affect different brain functionalities, including cognitive function.
Due to several reasons, many people don’t reach their genetic potential for cognitive development. Here are tips to improve cognitive health.
A person’s mental health affects brain health, and studies say this starts even before the person is born. For instance, high levels of stress in mothers during gestation may affect the brain development of the fetus, and this may cause changes in cognitive development.
Work on controlling stress levels with mindfulness practices.
While there is no solid evidence that cognitive-stimulating activities help improve cognitive function, experts suggest that these activities may help slow down the cognitive decline in adults.
Brain teasers and brain games can be used to delay conditions like dementia and improve brain health.
A very important study that connected social behavior and cognitive impairment was the Experience Corps trial.
In this trial, 702 individuals aged 60 or older were given an opportunity to get involved in volunteering activities.
The study showed that people who experienced social connectedness because of volunteering had a significant increase in hippocampal volume.
Larger hippocampal volume points to better cognitive development.
Social enrichment also plays a role in improving cognitive development in infants.
Studies show that a stimulating social environment, increased parental involvement, and engaging play activities can benefit cognitive development in infants as less as six months of age.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-018-0277-0
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4006996/
https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1708491114
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131001141218.htm
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6787147/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34635149/
Catechol-O-methyltransferase, or the COMT gene, is located on the q arm of chromosome 22 and provides instructions for producing an enzyme called catechol-O-methyltransferase.
This enzyme deactivates neurotransmitters (chemicals in the brain) like dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine.
There are two versions of the enzyme made by the COMT gene:
The COMT gene deactivates these neurotransmitters in their normal form by adding a methyl group to their structure.
When there are abnormal changes (mutations) in the COMT gene, it cannot function normally, and the body struggles to eliminate toxins and harmful chemicals.
Studies have shown that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the COMT gene affect its activity, resulting in ‘warrior’ and ‘worrier’ traits.
The most common variant in the COMT gene was found to be the substitution of methionine (Met) in the place of valine (Val) at position 158.
Based on the number of variant gene copies, an individual is classified as:
The Warrior
Individuals having two copies of the G allele have a higher COMT enzyme, which means lower dopamine levels in the brain.
They also have a higher pain threshold and greater capacity to deal with stress at the expense of cognitive performance.
For this reason, people with GG genotype are termed as Warriors.
The Worrier
The COMT enzyme formed from the A allele has a 75% reduction in activity compared with the one formed from the G allele.
So, people with the AA genotype have lower COMT enzyme activity and increased dopamine levels in the brain.
They have a lower pain threshold and increased sensitivity to stress, earning them the name ‘Worriers.’
These individuals also show improved memory and attention to detail but with a greater risk for Parkinson's disease.
The symptoms of COMT gene variation differ in people. Some common symptoms observed in people with COMT gene mutation include:
COMT gene mutations may cause estrogen imbalance, resulting in a wide range of symptoms such as:
COMT gene mutation may cause an increase or decrease in dopamine levels. While high dopamine levels result in violent behavior, impulsivity, and schizophrenic tendency, low levels of the hormone may cause:
The abnormal change in the COMT gene results in defective functioning of the enzyme, resulting in poor detoxification and elimination of toxins.
The COMT gene mutation is closely associated with the MTHFR gene, and both are linked to Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome.
A mutation in the MTHFR or the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene is common and is present as two main variations:
Since you can inherit the COMT or the MTHFR gene mutations simultaneously, you should always test for both mutations, if required.
COMT and MTHFR genes are related to methylation, and the MTHFR gene affects how the COMT gene functions.
When the MTHFR gene activity is low, it lowers the activity of the COMT gene. The reduced activity of both these genes may have serious health consequences.
For example, the problem of poor detoxification is aggravated in people with a mutation in the MTHFR gene along with that in the COMT gene.
Image: Recommendations for COMT gene mutation
The COMT gene supports the detoxification process, and having a gene mutation affects it.
Since we cannot change genetics, here are some lifestyle changes to manage the COMT gene mutation in people who have it:
Since the COMT gene participates in methylation, here are some supplements that will support this function in people with the gene mutation:
While phytonutrients are nutritious chemicals found in plants, you should ensure a good balance between the ones you consume and avoid.
Include more flavones, myricetin, and genistein that can be found in foods like onions, parsley, celery, grapefruit, and chamomile.
Exercise is an effective stress buster and also ensures good overall health. Regular exercising increases methylation and catechol levels in the blood.
Discuss with your doctor the amount of exercise you require based on your COMT gene mutation.
In people with a COMT mutation, their body finds it challenging to remove catechols.
So, it is best to avoid foods that increase catechol levels, and these include:
Excess estrogens in the body slow the COMT enzyme’s detoxification process, leading to a build-up of toxins and harmful substances.
So, you must avoid foods that increase estrogen levels in the body, including:
Increasing your intake of foods like cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, and flaxseeds helps detoxify the liver.
When you go long without eating, the catechol level in the body increases. Regular mealtimes maintain steady blood sugar and catechol levels within the normal range.
People with the gene mutation tend to be more stressed, and its effects may be long-lasting. So, it is important to practice stress reduction through yoga, meditation, mindfulness, regular workouts, pursuing hobbies, and spending time with your loved ones.
Your liver plays an essential role in the detoxification process in the body. So, if you have a COMT gene mutation, it is important to keep your liver healthy.
Some foods that help your liver in its detox process are:
https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/gene/comt/
https://www.mygenefood.com/genes/brain-and-mental-health-genes/comt/
The Catechol-O-MethylTransferase gene (COMT gene) provides instructions for producing the Catechol-O-methyltransferase enzyme (COMT enzyme).
This has become a gene of interest because of its ability to affect people’s thinking, emotions, and behavior.
Changes in the COMT gene have been associated with anxiety, aggression, and other psychopathological behaviors.
The COMT gene produces two versions of the COMT enzyme.
The membrane-bound COMT (MB-COMT) is produced by the brain’s nerve cells, which is the longer version.
The shorter version, called the soluble catechol-O-methyltransferase (S-COMT), is produced by different tissues in the body like the kidneys and liver and also by the blood.
In the brain, the MB-COMT helps in breaking down catecholamines.
Catecholamines are neurotransmitters with a single amino group, including dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine.
This enzyme is especially important in breaking down neurotransmitters in the brain's prefrontal cortex.
The prefrontal cortex is a part of the brain associated with cognitive functions, including thinking, reasoning, problem-solving, and impulse control.
Changes in the COMT gene can lead to abnormal levels of COMT enzyme in the brain.
This can increase or decrease neurotransmitter levels, leading to different personality disorders and an increased risk of developing certain health conditions.
Below are some of the health conditions associated with COMT gene changes.
A 2013 study analyzed the relationship between COMT gene changes (polymorphism) and the risk of Parkinson’s Disease. It reported that Asians with the AA homozygote of the Val158Met polymorphism of this gene might have a higher risk of developing Parkinson’s.
Another 2013 study also analyzes the effect of Val158Met polymorphism of COMT on schizophrenia. Accordingly, people with this polymorphism may have an increased risk of developing schizophrenia because of structural changes in the prefrontal cortex.
Fibromyalgia is a condition that causes overall muscle pain, mood changes, sleep disorders, and fatigue. According to a 2013 study, people with fibromyalgia had lower COMT enzyme activity than those without the condition. The study concludes that the Val158Met SNP of this gene may be associated with pain sensitivity in these patients.
People with COMT gene changes may be at a higher risk of developing specific personality traits mentioned below.
Slow COMT activity may lead to higher levels of neurotransmitters in the brain, and this can cause mood changes, irritability, anger, anxiety, and other mental disorders.
Below are nutrients that support balanced COMT activity in the body.
Some flavonoids like EGCG, quercetin, fisetin, and oleoresin need COMT to be processed in the body.
Therefore, excess consumption of foods rich in these flavonoids may decrease COMT activity.
Some people may have slower COMT activity than others.
Genetic testing can help understand how a person’s COMT gene functions and changes in it, if any.
This may help recognize COMT activity levels and plan nutritional changes to supplement it.
Besides a good diet, nutritional supplements can also help balance these levels and improve COMT activity in the brain.
Talk to your doctor to know what supplements may work for you.
https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/gene/comt/
https://www.nature.com/articles/1300787
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4345409/
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00148/full
