Ever wonder why some people are crazy imagine things and perceive it as reality?
A new study suggests a person’s ability to distinguish between reality and imagination is determined by the presence of a fold located at the front of the brain, called the paracingulate sulcus (PCS), which is MISSING in 27% of people!
The size and presence of the PCS may be a key part of understanding schizophrenia because 44% of people with the disease do not have it at all.
Although the disorder doesn’t typically appear until adulthood, it is believed to have its roots in the womb, which is when the PCS is developed.
The lead study author, Jon Simons, said:
“Hallucinations [in schizophrenia] are often reported whereby, for example, someone hears a voice when nobody’s there. Difficulty distinguishing real from imagined information might be an explanation for such hallucinations.”
However, since over a quarter of the population is missing the PCS and only 1% have the disease, more research is needed to distinguish a connection.
[Image via AP Images.]
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