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Author's Note: Is there a link between intelligence and mental illness?
When I began researching this article, I wondered how many of the world's historical geniuses would be considered mentally ill were they alive today? Turns out, probably many of them. From the suspected autism of Michelangelo, bipolar tendencies of Sylvia Path and depression of Abraham Lincoln, there are plenty of suppositions to be made. In the end, what I really found interesting was the connection between mental illness and intellect at either end of the spectrum. Both a high IQ and a low IQ are thought to protect against some forms of mental illness -- and potentially cause mental illness, too.
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Sources
- Bayne, John. "7 'Eccentric' Geniuses Who Were Clearly Just Insane." Aug. 18, 2008. (Feb. 1, 2013) Cracked. http://www.cracked.com/article_16559_7-eccentric-geniuses-who-were-clearly-just-insane_p2.html
- Collingwood, Jane. "Intelligence Linked to Bipolar Disorder." 2010. (Feb. 1, 2013) Psych Central. http://psychcentral.com/lib/2010/intelligence-linked-to-bipolar-disorder/
- Davis, Jeanie Lerche. "Did Michelangelo Have Autism?" May 26, 2004. (Feb. 1, 2013) WebMD. http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/news/20040526/did-michelangelo-have-autism
- Futurity. "Monkey Brain Signals Mental Wanderlust." (Feb. 1, 2013) http://www.futurity.org/science-technology/monkey-brains-signal-mental-wanderlust/
- Hsu, Christine. "Scientists Find Truth in 'Mad Scientist' Stereotype: There is a Link Between Genius and Insanity." June 4, 2012. (Feb. 1, 2013) Medical Daily. http://www.medicaldaily.com/articles/10149/20120604/genius-insanity-schizophrenia-bipolar-disorder.htm
- Knapp, Alex. "Nikola Tesla: Unique Genius or a Model for Everyone?" April 28, 2011. (Feb. 1, 2013) Forbes. http://www.forbes.com/sites/alexknapp/2011/04/28/nikola-tesla-unique-genius-or-a-model-for-everyone/
- National Alliance on Mental Illness. "What is Mental Illness?" (Feb. 1, 2013) http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=By_Illness
- National Institute of Mental Health. "Common Gene Version Optimizes Thinking -- but With a Possible Downside." Feb. 9, 2007. (Feb. 6, 2013). http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2007/common-gene-version-optimizes-thinking-but-with-a-possible-downside.shtml
- PBS. "American Experience: John Nash." (Feb. 1, 2013) http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/nash/peopleevents/p_jnash.html
- Science Daily. "Link Between Creativity and Mental Illness Confirmed in Large-Scale Swedish Study." Oct. 16, 2012. (Feb. 1, 2013) ScienceDaily. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121016084934.htm
- Tesla Memorial Society of New York. "Tesla Biography. (Feb. 10, 2013). http://www.teslasociety.com/biography.htm
- Waugh, Rob. "There is a Link Between Genius and Madness, Claim Scientists." June 4, 2012. (Feb. 6, 2013) Daily Mail. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2154393/There-IS-link-genius-madness-claim-scientists--dont-know-evolved-gift.html