I can't believe how fascinated I am about this article on toxoplasma. It's amazing to contemplate how a simple parasite can dramatically change your behavior. Most believe that they are in complete control of themselves, yet a tiny parasite can have dramatic effects.

How your cat is making you crazy
Has your cat infected you with a mind-controlling parasite?
Pregnant women infected by cat parasite more likely to give birth to boys
Can a common parasite make you sexy?

Hm bad reaction times? How bad? I can play league just fine and dodge quick skillshots, hopefully that means i don't have it

Yes, there are a lot of interesting angles on this. Would it follow that highly competitive gamers, who probably have good reaction times, are not risk-takers, anti-social, and more cynical? Seems to follow.

I feel like it's too much of a panic causing article. I mean who isn't suspicious of others, anti social or has low attention span?


Quite a lot of people meet criteria because of how the world is, at least some of them. Being cautious of others is very normal because of possible threat, what i think the article wanted to say was being abnormally afraid of strangers. Antisocial-ness happens because not everyone can fit in, especially because many people bully others to improve their social ranking. Which in turn gives birth to "anti social people" who are usually just hurt and didn't have normal growing years..


Attention spans are low because of the modern world, everything is made to satisfy us and because so many things exist for that purpose we end up valuing our time a lot more. The huge number of autism due to people having kids at an older age isn't helping either.

I'm stunned. This stuff is fascinating.

Glad I'm not the only one that thought it was fascinating. It reminds me of that worm that burrows into your head in Limbo which makes you walk around like a zombie. Apparently that's pretty much what happens IRL.

http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/toxoplasmosis/epi.html

"In the United States it is estimated that 22.5% of the population 12 years and older have been infected with Toxoplasma. In various places throughout the world, it has been shown that up to 95% of some populations have been infected with Toxoplasma. Infection is often highest in areas of the world that have hot, humid climates and lower altitudes."