Internet addiction is sitting in our genes

If you spend long hours on Facebook, Twitter or in online stores, the blame can not only own lack of will, but also the genes. Researchers found that Internet addiction can be hereditary roots.

This discovery seems all the more strange that the Internet itself is hardly there for 20 years What kind of heredity could develop in such a short time? But Dr. Christian Montag from the University of Bonn said that together with his colleagues found specific genes in people who can not bring himself to break away from the screen. Moreover, most of them are women.

"From a biological point of view   Internet addiction s has the same genetic cause as smoking - says Dr. Montag. - It is not a mental disorder or weak will. We found a specific genetic variation is in people (mostly women) who showed the characteristic behavior of the dependent '

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The researchers conducted interviews with 800 volunteers about their online preferences. People were asked how often they think about the Internet, and what impact they think it makes their lives. The researchers then compared the genetic structure of the 132 most linked to the Internet and the people who are categorized as the most liberal in this respect.

It turned out that people in the first group had the same gene variants previously associated with nicotine dependence. So, at the Internet addiction   there are very clear genetic cause. And this discovery could help in developing new therapies.

Psychology

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