Toxoplasmosis and behavioural changes.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review synthesizing mechanistic animal research and observational literature without systematic methodology or new human data.
PubMed 31980266 · doi:10.1016/j.jfo.2020.01.001
What was done
Narrative review summarizing findings from animal models and human observational studies on the neurobiological mechanisms and behavioral associations of Toxoplasma gondii infection.
What was found
The abstract reports no numerical data or effect estimates. Qualitatively, animal studies demonstrate that T. gondii infection associates with predation-risk behaviors (such as attraction of infected mice to cat urine) via promoter demethylation in amygdala genes altering dopaminergic fear circuits. In humans, the review notes reported links between infection and higher rates of schizophrenia, suicide attempts, road rage, and entrepreneurial ventures linked to reduced fear of failure.
Why it matters
It highlights how a common parasitic infection may interact with neurobiological fear pathways to alter host decision-making and risk-taking behaviors.
Limits
The abstract contains no primary data, quantitative effect sizes, or study counts. Human behavioral findings are based on observational associations prone to confounding, and animal mechanistic models may not directly translate to human behavioral etiology.
Cited by
- supports Toxoplasma gondii infection in rodents alters the dopamine pathway in the brain, causing them to be sexually excited by and attracted to the smell of cat urine.