Can we really blame bad driving on genetics? A recent study published in the journal Cerebral Cortex says we can.
Researcher Steven Cramer, a neurology professor at the University of California Irvine, found that people with a certain gene variant performed more than 30 percent worse on a driving test than people without it. Apparently, about 30 percent of Americans have the variant.
The research looked at a protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) that is secreted to the area of the brain that is associated with particular activity. The protein helps facilitate communication among brain cells and helps retain memory.
In Cramer's study, people who have the gene variation he focused on have limited BDNF secretion. "These people make more errors from the get-go, and they forget more of what they learned after time away," Cramer said in a statement.
Cramer and his team of researchers brought their research to the road by recruiting 29 people to drive 15 laps on a simulated course with difficult curves and turns. Twenty-two of the participants did not have the gene variant; seven did. The researchers wanted to see how effectively the participants learned to navigate the twists and turns in each subsequent lap.
Four days later, they repeated the test. The participants with the variant did worse both times. They also retained less the second go-round. The researchers concluded that these poor results were because of the limited BDNF secretion.
I don't know if I buy into this or not. There must be a lot of limited-secreted-BDNF-drivers on U.S. Highway 19 every morning. Let's hope that we don't see this as a defense to fight a traffic ticket!
If you or your friend has been injured because of a bad driver (despite their BDNF secretion level), you should talk with an attorney before talking with the insurance companies. Insurance companies have lawyers working for them-so should you!
Click here to schedule a free case consultation with Personal Injury Attorney Matthew Noyes. With offices throughout Tampa Bay, Attorney Noyes can easily accommodate your schedule after your car accident, motorcycle crash, or other personal injury matter.
