Nature: Stop saying that I am introverted. This is the fault of the gene.

Release date: 2017-07-14

People have internal and external divisions, and you can easily distinguish them. In the crowd, you can feel the energy of the extroverts from the eager eyes and the endless words. Introverts often avoid direct contact with their eyes and seem to be more willing to hide in their own small world. In this era of encouraging extroversion, introverts often endure too much pressure, as if they are unwilling to open their hearts and embrace the world.

Today, a study published in the top academic journal Nature has been well-known for introverts – researchers from a variety of research institutions have discovered that genes determine the way we see the world.

This sounds incredible. Everyone knows that genes affect every aspect of people. It determines whether we drink blush or not, and it also affects the risk of a particular disease. However, the three views and personalities of human beings are more like the gradual development of the day after tomorrow. Can they also escape the control of genes?

At least, a large study supports this claim. The research team found 338 children between the ages of one and a half and two years old, of which 82 were identical twins (genes can be approximated exactly the same) and 84 were non-identical twins (about 50% of the genes) ). Of the remaining children, there are 84 ordinary people (not siblings between each other) and 88 autistic children. The subtlety of this experiment is that the presence of identical twins can clearly indicate the role of genes in character development. In addition, children with autism can provide additional information.

The films studied are related to children's lives (Source: eurekalert)

After collecting more than 300 children, the researchers asked them to watch videos related to children's life scenes, such as a woman (imitation of the mother), a room full of toys (simulating life), or between children and children. Interaction (simulating social). Subsequently, the researchers used eye tracking techniques with a top-level accuracy to assess how each child's eyes move as they watch the film. This includes: whether they are looking at people or objects, first looking at people's eyes or other parts, how long they stay in each part, and how different parts are viewed. Subsequently, they counted whether the movement of the eyeballs in the above categories of children was regular.

The result surprised them! Although each child watches the film separately at different times, the eye movements of identical twins are surprisingly consistent: one eye of one of the identical twins is almost perfectly matched to the other. They are more likely to move their eyes at the same time, move their eyes in the same direction, stare at the same thing, and watch the same time. The difference between the two is only 0.017 seconds!

In the key parts of the two "faces" of the human eye and mouth, the eye movements of identical twins (blue) show surprisingly consistent (Source: Nature)

Conversely, there is no such high synchronization rate between non-identical twins. The consistency of the movement of the twin eyeballs has also decreased from nearly 100% of identical twins to about 40%.

“These data show that children's genes determine how they see the world. The way children see the world determines how they understand the world – every half second of eye movements affects brain development. So you can imagine, "How these results will show up," Dr. Warren Jones, one of the principals of the study, said: "This has changed our understanding of how children perceive the environment and has changed our understanding of the forces that affect these perceptions. The results show that our genetic material has profoundly affected us."

These results are not only significant in the experiment, but also accompany the children's growth. More than a year after the study, the researchers did the same test again, and the data remained significant—the eye movements of identical twins remained nearly perfectly consistent, while the non-identical twins remained distinct.

Children with autism may be just because genetics change the way they see the world (Source: SheKnows)

In the data of children with autism, the researchers saw heart-rending results. Normal children spend a lot of time on people's eyes or mouth, which is the basis for recognizing faces. And children with autism spend less time on these two parts. It has long been known that autism is associated with genes. This new result suggests that genes may directly alter the way in which autistic children see the world and affect their brain development.

"This result shows that our observations are very stable," said Dr. John N. Constantino, lead author of the study. "Genes affect children's life experiences. This study also creates opportunities for children with autism and hopes to make us more Provide them with the environment they need."

In summary, this study shows that genes determine the way people see the world, and this affects each individual's personality. We believe that both outward and introverted are attributes that nature gives us. In this era of greater openness and tolerance, every introvert has the respect it deserves and enjoys the freedom it deserves.

Graphic introvert (Source: Fruit Shell; Translation: Ent)

Reference material

[1] Infant viewing of social scenes is under genetic control and is atypical in autism

[2] In autism, genes drive eye gaze abnormalities

[3] How children look at mom's face is guided by genetics and disrupted in autism

Source: Academic Jingwei