Pessimism is embedded in the genes

Researchers found that levels of the molecule neuropeptide Y (NPY) in our body directly responsible for whether the cup of life is half full or half empty. People with less than magical NPY are rather more negative and with difficulty to cope with stressful situations, police in. "Daily Telegraph".

"Natural pessimists" are much more prone to depression, the study showed the University of Michigan. According to the research team, the levels of NPY in the brain is genetically programmed before birth us. Scientists believe that this discovery will help to develop methods of early diagnosis "pessimists" and thus prevention of various mental illnesses.

Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, neuroscientists scanned the brain activity of volunteers while people reading neutral words like "material" negatively charged words ( "killer") and positive expressions ( "hope").

People with low NPY reacted to negative words with strong activity in the prefrontal cortex, which processes emotions. Participants with high levels of the molecule reacts much less.
Head of the survey - psychiatrist Dr. Brian Mickey, believes that the discovery is not the reason to be depressed, that our fate is destined hard lot. "We hope that the results will help us begin to assess individual risk of developing to depression and anxiety disorder," he said. However, it is better to know what your nature and prepared to react than a lifetime to wallow in misery is the opinion of scientists.

source: Sience Alert