Cat Blogging In A Harsh New Light

The Atlantic delivers the most fascinating and disturbing article I have read... well, in a while - How Your Cat Is Making You Crazy.

It's long and no summary will do it justice, but the elevator pitch is this: an eccentric researcher has discovered that the common cat parasite that infects roughly one third of all humans and is believed to lie latent in the brain actually seems to cause reduced reaction times (leading to more traffic deaths), personality changes, and schizophrenia in the genetically susceptible.

The subjects who tested positive for the parasite had significantly delayed reaction times. Flegr was especially surprised to learn, though, that the protozoan appeared to cause many sex-specific changes in personality. 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.

Did Richard Nixon have a cat?  And is there an infectious agent behind the "cat people, dog people" dichotomy?

Lest you are still untroubled, this bug may be a trigger for schizophrenia:

Many schizophrenia patients show shrinkage in parts of their cerebral cortex, and Flegr thinks the protozoan may be to blame for that. He hands me a recently published paper on the topic that he co-authored with colleagues at Charles University, including a psychiatrist named Jiri Horacek. Twelve of 44 schizophrenia patients who underwent MRI scans, the team found, had reduced gray matter in the brain—and the decrease occurred almost exclusively in those who tested positive for T. gondii. After reading the abstract, I must look stunned, because Flegr smiles and says, “Jiri had the same response. I don’t think he believed it could be true.” When I later speak with Horacek, he admits to having been skeptical about Flegr’s theory at the outset. When they merged the MRI results with the infection data, however, he went from being a doubter to being a believer. “I was amazed at how pronounced the effect was,” he says. “To me that suggests the parasite may trigger schizophrenia in genetically susceptible people.”

OK, that was a longish elevator ride.  Read it all, or go crazy trying.

Comments

[Danube of Thought]

Clarice ain't gonna like this.

[Captain Hate]

More disturbing than Sully's flights of insanity? I doubt that....

Btw can we have a sports thread about whether it would be better to call Jeremy Lin "Linsanity" or "Yellow Mamba"?

[Joan of Argghh]

That Hollywood hasn't picked up on a cat-triggered zombie apocalypse angle on this just shows how many cat people there are in L.A.

[narciso]

It's the Atlantic, people, insanity is almost
a pre requisite of employment.

[Cecil Turner]

So they'd be experts, right?

[Joan of Argghh]

But it does sorta validate the whole, "the Internet was invented solely for the purpose of viewing cat videos" theory.

[MarkO]

Belated birthday wishes to DoT, an incredibly talented and thougthful fellow. The man knows his martinis.

Capt'n, the Terps are at Cameron @ 4 today. My season, however, is already complete.

[Danube of Thought]

My season is not complete until the Blue Demons exit the Big Dance.

[hit and run]

I hope Chaco weighs in.

Although how do we know he's not already compromised?

[narciso]

Ironically this particular organism was part of the plot of that financial techno thriller,
'the Fund' I recommended some months back.

[narciso]

I don't know why they singled out cats, maybe it's part of Pinky and the Brain's ingenious plots

http://rosemary-drisdelle.suite101.com/toxoplasma-gondii-and-behavior-a19043

[MarkO]

"My season is not complete until the Blue Demons exit the Big Dance."

I think you will be able to say "you complete me" fairly early on.

[henry]

Maybe the GAB is infected. Current odds are 3 of 4 senators will face recalls. The link provides a good overview of the challenges and related lawsuits so far. Dem responses to the challenges are due Tuesday.

[Joan of Argghh]

Those who tested positive for the parasite, both studies showed, were about two and a half times as likely to be in a traffic accident as their uninfected peers.

Coming to an Allstate underwriter's desk in 3-2-1 . . .

Mayhem, indeed.

[narciso]

How did Rod serling put it,

http://www.stanford.edu/class/humbio153/SuccessfulParasite/Analysis.html

[Captain Hate]

Capt'n, the Terps are at Cameron @ 4 today. My season, however, is already complete.

During a game thread on the Terp 247 board, we were pretty much hoping for a Duke win so that they wouldn't come into the game with a "let's destroy these guys" attitude that two straight losses would produce. Also that Rivers and company would have a post victory bang-a-thon so he'd be too tired to do anything but jack up a ton of threes; which if he's hitting we're toast anyway. I don't have high expectations for this game but that's why they play 'em.

[narciso]

Does anybody fact check the Atlantic, rhetorical question I know,

[MarkO]

This year I actually fear the turtle, as I've said here before.

[Captain Hate]

Btw Mark, on that 247 board we have a few Hole and Dook posters who are outstanding; to the point where I can't hate the teams like I used to. That and Saint Deanie being out of the picture...

[Captain Hate]

I'm very pleased with Mark Turgeon and hope that he plans on College Park being his final destination. Gary really hated recruiting and having C-Note Calhoun make off with a few guys whom he'd pursued by using AAU surrogates really soured him on doing it while running a clean program. I think he just wanted to outlast Yow so that a good replacement could be found.

[Jane]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DOT!

I'm back at CPAC, tweeting to start now. Much smaller crowd particularly in the media room. Rick Scott just finished, Phyliss Schafley is giving her speech.

[MarkO]

Steyn

http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/290806/church-obama-mark-steyn

[Thomas Collins]

Keep this info away from Obama and Sebelius. Next we'll have an ObamaCare reg. requiring that one must go to a federal board to get a permit to purchase a cat or dog.

Now all we need is a study that observing guppy behavior causes children to become promiscuous.

[Gmax]

Well the USA Womens Soccer team is in Dallas for a match, and guess who is viewing the spectacle? Courtesy of Heather O'Reilly ( and JMax of course ). I get to spend time with my progeny and watch soccer. Who says this is not a great country! U S A!!!!

[narciso]

Well there will be a fish licence, involved, Python has turned out less absurd over the years, or the world has gone that much crazier,

[narciso]

What I was referring to;

http://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video;_ylt=A0oG7t5pnjZP3A8AsLpXNyoA?p=%27fish%20licence&fr=moz35&fr2=piv-web

[Captain Hate]

Mark, I think I've said here before that the ACC is down a click or so compared to teams like Syracuse, Ohio State and Kentucky, just off the top of my head. I think your guys stole one the other night just by outperforming the Holes, whom I think have enough talent to go head to head with anybody in the tourney but just have strange lapses that are inexplicable. It wasn't Roy who was missing free throws and throwing the ball away; but he's ultimately responsible for the performance of the team. I thought K did a masterful job of keeping his guys focused when things weren't dropping for them.

[narciso]

And then there's this;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2Je1CEPkUM

[Frau Katzensprung]

It's always good to hear from you, Joan of Argghh.

nariciso, I wonder if the OWS could help with the study of Toxoplasma gondii.

[Laura]

The toxoplasmosis/schizophrenia link has been known for quite awhile. A friend of mine worked for Dr Torrey, mentioned in the article, and I can remember discussing this with her over 10 years ago.
The other subtle changes in brain chemistry and behavior are the interesting part. Is it nature, nurture or parasites?

[Ignatz]

--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.--

Then why is the sanity of old ladies inversely proportional to the number of cats they own?

[MarkO]

One thing to remember about Obama is that he thought his own typical white grandmother had too much health care.

What a guy.

[hit and run]

After yesterday's "hot racks" and Fibonacci and Kardashian buttocks,I question the wisdom of having a "cat" thread.

Synonyms are not your friend.

I'd say that I am squeamishly afraid of what might happen -- but again,synonyms are dangerous.

[MarkO]

Old Roy was as honorable in defeat as I've ever seen any coach. He had to have been as whipped as K was when FSU did the same in Cameron. It is hard to overestimate the pressure on a team who has a big lead when the opposition begins that surge. Especially when there is a sign, as when you tip the ball into their basket.

I'd like to think it is a turning point for Duke, but I would not bet against the Terps today. They have been good for 35 minutes.

[Captain Hate]

I've liked Roy from when he was in Kansas; I think he's an honestly good guy who doesn't get nearly the credit he deserves. It's funny that he could never get over the hump in Jayhawkland, which it took the excellent Self to do, but whipped D'oh's underperformers into shape at Chapel Hole and won it all with them. I'm glad that he tied Saint Deanie for championships in rapid fashion and believe he'll be alone at the top in short order.

[Ignatz]

--I'd say that I am squeamishly afraid of what might happen -- but again,synonyms are dangerous.--

I had the very same thought, HR, but resisted my impulse to do an image search for any cute kitty cats to post for DoT's Bday.

[bgates]

Keep this info away from Obama and Sebelius. Next we'll have an ObamaCare reg. requiring that one must go to a federal board to get a permit to purchase a cat or dog.

Get this info to Obama and Sibelius. Those idiots will try to institute a reg. requiring a federal permit to own a cat or dog.

[DrJ]

Yikes! I've not read the article yet, but we have lot of the fuzzy faces around. Did the article mention any treatment for the condition?

[Extraneus]

Great Steyn link, MarkO (and narciso in the other thread), though I fear the ladies will feel a bit woozy upon reading it.

[Gmax]

Death panels is the only option, Dr J.

[DrJ]

The human or the pussy cat?

[Gmax]

Cats have no reason to exist as all sentient beings know instinctively...

[narciso]

I don't think if they are in the same genus

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/picturesoftheday/9073821/Pictures-of-the-day-10-February-2012.html?image=1

[Janet]

That Steyn link IS great.

"As Philip Klein pointed out in the American Spectator two years ago, the Obamacare bill contained 700 references to the secretary “shall,” another 200 to the secretary “may,” and 139 to the secretary “determines.” So the secretary may and shall determine pretty much anything she wants..."

This link relates -

"Have you noticed that this entire Obama anti Free Exercise of Religion brouhaha is occurring outside of direct representative governance where the people can actually exert some sway? It is a regulatory requirement that was never part of the original Obamacare bill. Indeed, there would seem to be no question that if such an anti Catholic provision were actually put in a statute, it would fail, fail, fail. That’s why the Obamacarians left most things up to the bureaucracy. "

[Utility markers feed at the Restaurant at the End.]

Ear worm for the Man Facing Southeast.
=================

[RichatUF]

Happy Birthday Danube of Thought!

[Janet]

and then the link from NRO points out that -

"Thus, instead of delaying final regulations until they could be revised to reflect the prospective changes President Obama outlined Friday, the administration went ahead and locked into regulation its original position, accompanied by a (non-binding) promise to revisit the issue."

What scammers!~!

[Jane]

Laura,

If you are here, you need to sign up for the cruise. Jim Geraghty is on stage and he just announced that. I expect him to name Porch and Centralcal next.

[Got the Jones.]

Cap Haha, Kaintuck and Karolina are Kolonies of Kansas. Bill & Roy just catch the bug from Allen. Somehow, it swam upstream to Texas, the Winter Winner.
================

[MarkO]

"What scammers!~!"

In an unusual development, I had a life yesterday so I don't know the answer, but what was said at CPAC about this preview of our children's lives?

[Jane]

We are screwed Mark.

[Frau Katzensprung]

Wowee, DoT and Sarah Palin share a birthday, two gorgeous, smart people. Happy birthday DoT and many, many more!

[MarkO]

Upon reading this lovely directive, my skin did not merely crawl, it lept like an hart:

“The Secretary shall develop oral healthcare components that shall include tooth-level surveillance.”

By Jove, it's about time, isn't it?

[Ignatz]

--“The Secretary shall develop oral healthcare components that shall include tooth-level surveillance.”--

OMG, they really are going to put transceivers in our fillings.

Welcome to Barryland where we're all schizophrenics now.

[Extraneus]

That's some LUN you have there, Frau.

[Charlie (Colorado)]

Although how do we know he's not already compromised?

With three cats? Consider the odds.

But this is one of those studies with a small population measuring subtle differences in personality with no before-and-after data.

Me, I was introverted, suspicious, and not overfond of rules when I'd only had dogs.

[Porchlight]

This definitely explains my workplace.

[Charlie (Colorado)]

Now all we need is a study that observing guppy behavior causes children to become promiscuous.

Sounds fishy to me.

[Porchlight]

Jane, I am trying to talk my one conservative girlfriend here in town into going on the cruise. She is a big NRO fan. But she says if Steyn isn't onboard, the deal is off

[Jane]

oh he's coming, I'm sure.

[MaryD]

Just read the Steyn link. Spot on as usual. The picture at NRO made me see why Michael Walsh refers to She-bilious as "Hatchet Faced".

[Captain Hate]

Kim, I'm watching Syracuse now and this might be one of their more enjoyable teams in a long time and I'm not just saying that because they're a future ACC team (that they don't have any geeky/trashy white guys on the team is a plus as well).

[matt]

I have often tried to blog with a cat, but he simply won't stand still.

The only antidote to the aforementioned cat-induced madness is, of course, dogs. If you rub your head with a dog, it all goes away.If you use a wirehair terrier, you can also comb your hair at the same time.

[donald]

I'm doomed.

I have been getting hammered pretty bad on the field the last couple of years. I have attributed that to over familiarities with the fan bases and that I was getting older, and fatter and slower, and naturally dumber.

But no, it's the cat.

[Frau Stiefelkater]

Ext - I'm glad you enjoyed the DoT LUN

"I was introverted, suspicious, and not overfond of rules when I'd only had dogs.
I like that in a man, Chaco.

Speaking of men, Steyn's words can sure fire up a maiden's fancy. It's a bit different from the Kardashian rocks and rills effect.

[Frau Stiefelkater]

Quick, file a claim with the feds, donald.

[kave]

Finally a thread that makes me laugh, it's been a while.

[Frau Stiefelkater]

DrJ and Chaco - Stay away from cat kisses!

[donald]

Looks like a fun windmill to tilt at Frau.

Any a y'all big time fed lawyers wanna help a cat damaged feller out?

[DrJ]

Well, I read the article. The claim is that the effect of infection is very modest unless one has genetics that lead to a suppressed immune system. In that case they speculate that it can lead to symptoms of schizophrenia. Maybe.

They also claim that there is only a three week window in the early life of a cat where the parasite is transferred from cat to human. So the purring 12 yo in my lap is no longer an issue.

My read is that this makes for a much better headline than the actual facts support. Nonetheless, the article is worth reading.

[DrJ]

I should add that Charlie is a piker if he only has three cats.

[Frau Stiefelkater]

Chaco sounds a tad impatient at times. Wouldn't that explain his 3-cat limit?

[matt]

Step away from the cat and put your hands Up against the wall. We're from the Department of Human/Animal Interface and we're here to help you.

What we have here is a feline biohazard hazard. Very dangerous. Get the hazmat suits on and place the offending cat into the appropriate federally approved hazardous cat container.

"Sarge, we've been ordered to monitor the killer whale civil rights demonstration in downtown San Diego. We gotta roll. There's blubber everywhere and the SWAT team needs backup."

[Danube of Thought]

You're way too kind, Frau. Thanks.

[Frau Stiefelkater]

Erin Brockovich might be interested in a cat damaged client. Allred usually takes dogs.

[DrJ]

Get the hazmat suits on and place the offending cat into the appropriate federally approved hazardous cat container.

Thank the founders for the second amendment.

[Frau Katzensprung]

Isn't there already a hairball waiver in Obamacare?

[memomachine]

Hmmm.

1. "Btw can we have a sports thread about whether it would be better to call Jeremy Lin "Linsanity" or "Yellow Mamba"?"

It is entirely unfortunate that his last name isn't "Wang". Then he could be "The Big Wang". "Our Big Wang". "Look at that Wang". "Wang-fu!".

Sure it's childish humor. It's all I got. :)

2. Frankly you have to wonder about the potential for brain parasites. Can anyone read this article without thinking about that video of surgeons doing brain surgery and finding a worm in that woman's brain?

ugh.

[Dave (in MA)]

I have no problem with schizophrenia and I have six cats. And so do I.

[Jimbo]

This may explain Maureen Dowd.

[daddy]

I thought MayBee said Bai Ling was Bat-shit crazy.

Did she actually mean that Bai Ling was Cat-shit crazy?

And BTW, where's MayBee? Ain't it her BirthDay or something?

[Clarice]

we beg to differ:http://www.google.com/imgres?q=bengal+cats&um=1&hl=en&client=safari&sa=N&rls=en&biw=1680&bih=846&tbm=isch&tbnid=5OwGG9TaucOO7M:&imgrefurl=http://meow-cats.com/bengal-cat/&docid=QBh4P9Boyo8jwM&imgurl=http://meow-cats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/bengal2.jpg&w=300&h=242&ei=K_g2T6CvOOjj0QGs-rDJAg&zoom=1">http://meow-cats.com/bengal-cat/&docid=QBh4P9Boyo8jwM&imgurl=http://meow-cats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/bengal2.jpg&w=300&h=242&ei=K_g2T6CvOOjj0QGs-rDJAg&zoom=1">http://www.google.com/imgres?q=bengal+cats&um=1&hl=en&client=safari&sa=N&rls=en&biw=1680&bih=846&tbm=isch&tbnid=5OwGG9TaucOO7M:&imgrefurl=http://meow-cats.com/bengal-cat/&docid=QBh4P9Boyo8jwM&imgurl=http://meow-cats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/bengal2.jpg&w=300&h=242&ei=K_g2T6CvOOjj0QGs-rDJAg&zoom=1

As for MayBee, I've missed her for quite a while. I suppose she's posing for another tasteful nude.

[Clarice]

Sorry about the broken, goofy link above. It did work in preview.

[daddy]

"I suppose she's posing for another tasteful nude."

Clarice,

Wonder if MayBee's got a Fibonacci series on her left buttock?

Hope we find out.

[Dave (in MA)]

,

[Clarice]

I wouldn't put it past our little minx, daddy.

[donald]

Fatcat's pretty old, so I guess it's just fat, dumb, and slow. thanks Dr. J.

[Threadkiller]

Did anyone check the litterbox?

http://justoneminute.typepad.com/main/2010/12/daredevil.html

[Christian Sarono]

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