- Academic Editor
-
-
-
Creativity, art and artistic creation in music, dance and visual arts are brain
activities specific to humans. Their genetic background remained unexplored for
years, but many recent studies have uncovered significant associations with
cognition-related genes and loci. These studies are summarized in the present
article. Creativity is a trait with heavy genetic influences, which are also
associated with mental disorders and altruism. Associated genes include
dopaminergic, serotoninergic and other genes (a1-antitrypsin, neuregulin,
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor). Music is another complex phenotype with
important genetic background. Studies in musicians and their families have
highlighted the contribution of loci (e.g., 4q22) and specific genes (vasopressin
receptor 1