My Mind Is Controlled By What...?

So many times we might have a feeling that something or someone, is controlling the way we feel. Happens to us all from time to time.

Now imagine that it's not just a feeling, but an actual fact. Scary thought, right? According to science, this may be happening to some of us. That could explain a lot, I reckon.

You Might Be Under Control Of An Evil Parasite

Photo via Wikimedia

How would it feel if you suddenly discovered that your life was not your own? That something else was affecting your daily decisions, altering your moods, and generally running your existence for its own benefit? Pretty freaky, huh? Well, prepare yourself for some bad news. There’s a scarily good chance that this is exactly what’s happening to you.

We’ve known for years that there are certain parasites that can control animals. The hairworm, for example, infects grasshoppers and forces them to commit suicide by jumping into water—where the hairworm reproduces.

It’s only recently, though, that we’ve begun to realize that such organisms could affect humans, too. The leading candidate is Toxoplasma gondii. Found in soil, spoiled meat, and cat feces, this single-celled brain parasite is thought to have infected up to one-third of all humans. And studies are suggesting that it changes their personalities.

In 2006, one study suggested that Toxoplasma gondii could screw up your mind in a way that we normally associate with brain injury. Guilt, intelligence, and even affection—potentially significant areas in determining your personality—were all found to be changed by the creature.

It’s even thought that Toxoplasma gondii could have inadvertently helped to shape human culture over the centuries. If that’s true, then it’s entirely possible that we owe the modern world less to human ingenuity and more to the nightmare worm monsters living in our skulls.

I wonder how long it will be before some slick lawyer uses this bug as an excuse for his client's crazy behavior? Not long, I reckon.

Coffee in the kitchen this morning. Rain storms are on the way!