Humans have evolved specific traits that have helped them survive. One of these is empathy, which allows one person to understand what another is feeling or experiencing. This is useful in herds but it tends to get over-used and herd members begin to blindly follow actions(rational or irrational) without independently thinking about it first. This was linked to the GABRB3 gene, which is responsible for GABA(a) receptors in the brain. GABA is an inhibitor of neurotransmission and GABA(a) receptors play a large role in the anterior insular cortex, which is where sensory input is translated to emotions. Phew!
Here's a diagram which shows the relation between these receptors, sensory information, and emotions.
The GABA receptors or more specifically the GABAa receptors are involved in this transformation of sensory information into emotions. The GABA receptor density acts a bit like a ‘volume button’. Increasing the receptor density decreases the intensity of the emotions and conversely decreasing receptor density increases the intensity of the emotional experience.
This GABRB3 has several mutations but the most common is called neurotypical. Over the years, the population has selected the gene that produces the best results for the herd, while limiting the ones that have lesser results. The traits that show up are expressed as the following behaviours:
- Strong desire to be around others(engages in social situations)
- Strong desire for physical contact(hugging, kissing, holding hands, sitting close, etc)
- Talkativeness and use of language outside of its literal meaning(saying something that means something else)
- Conformity
While these traits have served well in the past, they have become less useful over time as humans no longer need herds or tribes to survive. One could almost call it a handicap because it causes the following effects:
- blindly following others, lack of independent thought
- transmits pathogens more readily
- communication difficulties
- resistance to change