Toxoplasma Could Manipulate Our Behavior

[kbenson]

Here's some prior submissions about this or that are on the same subject[1][2][3]. I think I'm missing a more recent one with more comments though.

1: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1420315

2: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3573694

3: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=789517

[CapitalistCartr]

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8443309

[fragsworth]

> Toxoplasma gondii, can override a rodent's most basic survival instincts. The result is a rodent that does not race away from a cat but is instead strangely attracted to it.

Perhaps humans who think cats are cute are actually experiencing the same effect from the parasite.

[deeviant]

Perhaps cats are just cute?

[biggerfisch]

> Then they sacrificed the animals and looked at their brains.

That seems... extreme. Interesting word choice there!

[aaronem]

“Sacrifice” is common scientific parlance for the killing of experimental animals.

[cafebeen]

Surprisingly, this is the norm for research with animal models

[deeviant]

In the name of Science (and Cthulhu) I sacrifice you!

[pingou]

"Curiously, infected men found cat urine odor more pleasant than uninfected men; in women, the opposite occurred."

I read somewhere that they sometimes put this odor in perfumes (such as Chanel 5), I find it interesting to see this process must make it less attractive to women and more to to men, I wonder if they also put it in men's perfumes.

[deeviant]

I've had cats for all my life and I would assume to be "infected" by this point, but I can say, without reservation, I have never enjoyed the smell of cat urine.

[Datsundere]

Here is a podcast from radiolab that talk about parasites http://www.radiolab.org/story/91689-parasites/

[csixty4]

Why, yes, it has been a couple months since the last Toxoplasma freakout in the press. Guess we were due for one.

[roye]

Despite the title, I found the details regarding rodent brains and the kiss and spit mechanism much more engaging and convincing than the discussion of effects on humans.

[mariodiana]

> infected women tend to be extraverted, trusting and obedient.

In light of the stereotype of the spinster cat lady, I find this very difficult to believe. You'd think some man somewhere would pick up on that.

[Houshalter]

Is there any way to treat it?

[RyanMcGreal]

FTA:

Once infected, a person will remain a carrier for life. Our immune system is apparently incapable of eliminating the tissue cysts, nor can any known drug.

[kenj0418]

> Instead of smelling danger, the rats smell love.

The story of my life.