Gene breakthrough: 'Happy gene' boosts optimism

Optimistic people exhibit a positivity in all situations in life and approach life with a confident "can do" attitude.

Happy gene makes people optimistic
Researchers at Essex University believe that people who are born optimists actually carry a "happy gene," that makes them happy, healthy and encourages their brain to react positively.

To identify the so-called ‘happy gene,’ professor Elaine Fox in collaboration with his colleagues looked at DNA samples of 100 volunteers and tested their responses to high emotions stimulating images, triggering positive as well as negative emotions.

Fox and colleagues displayed a series of positive and negative pictures on a computer screen, such as those of happy smiling children as well as growling dogs.

Using revolutionary computer therapy, the research team then measured the study subjects’ reactions on a particular image.

In addition, all the volunteers supplied a specimen of their DNA to be tested for their 5-HTTLPR gene version, a gene that fluctuates levels of serotonin, the feel-good chemical.

According to the scientists, every human being inherits either two 'long' versions of the gene or two 'short' versions or a long and a short version.

Study findings
After measuring how the participants’ genes transported the serotonin around the body, the researchers found that people with short versions of the HTTLPR gene had stronger reactions, both positive and negative. On the other hand, those with the long gene type expressed less reaction.

The researchers observed that the volunteers having smaller versions of HTTLPR gene were more likely to pay attention to detail in the positive images and avoid getting upset by avoiding the negative images.

Gene discovery could help treat trauma, depression
Professor Fox says: "When times are really good, it is those with the highly reactive short genotype who really benefit.

"They were very responsive to positive images which suggests they will thrive in a supportive environment, but previous research shows they can also go under, and will be particularly devastated by a traumatic experience.

"Those with the long version are less reactive which means that they often fare best in fairly benign conditions but they perhaps would not gain as much from a good experience."

The researchers believe their findings could be used to help determine the best treatment for depression and trauma.

The findings have been published online in Biological Psychiatry.