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Parasitology : Toxoplasma Gondii mind-control
In the last few years, scientific research has found evidence of the specific mind-control action of the protozoan Toxoplasma Gondii in humans.
It is a concrete example of the problem of psychoactive parasites that the institute have discovered, and is probably a breakthrough in bringing awareness on the problem in the scientific community.
T. Gondii reproduces itself in the gut of cats. This parasite infests rats and provoke changes in their biochemistry as to decrease or erase their fear of cat's urine, thus making rats more likely to end in the cat's stomach.
Problem is, T. Gondii also infects humans.
And it really does influence human behavior in a big way notably by increasing risk-taking behaviors. It makes people more agressive, extroverted.
Statistical studies have shown that people who are infected have 2.65 more chances to be in a car accident !
Infected students have 70% more chances to major in business, and infection is very high in business people and entrepreneurs (80% correlation) probably because it enhances risk taking.
It also has a strong correlation with schizophrenia, and a somewhat high correlation with bipolar disorder, mood disorders (depression, anxiety, ...) and suicide.
It can be detected with simple blood testing of antibodies. The prevalence estimation varies from around 20% (North America, Asia, ...) to up to 80% (Europe, South America). Thus, a large part of the human population might be infected.
It has different effect depending on the sex of the host :
Compared with uninfected men, males who had the parasite were more introverted, suspicious, oblivious to other people’s opinions of them, and inclined to disregard rules. Infected women, on the other hand, presented in exactly the opposite way: they were more outgoing, trusting, image-conscious, and rule-abiding than uninfected women.
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