New Study Links Genetic Variation With Happiness and Depression

Based in Southern California, Mark Thek guides Esterline Power Systems and offers innovation-driven solutions in the electrical power distribution sphere. Reflecting a background in science and math, Mark Thek is presently working toward completion of the book The Quantification of Human Emotion. He has an interest in defining the range of emotions and psychological states that people experience, which have traditionally been challenging to concretely quantify. New research, though, is finding that genetic factors may represent a clue.

As reported in Futurism, an international team led by Baylor College of Medicine researchers has recently completed genomic data research spanning nearly 300,000 people. The focus is on uncovering the genomic data linked to specific feelings, including happiness and well-being, as well as neuroticism and depression.

Past studies have indicated that the individual differences in perceptions of well-being might reflect genetic predispositions just as environmental and psychosocial aspects of life are said to do. With maintaining a sense of happiness is tied to physical and mental health, the genetic connection has a significant potential impact in defining approaches to help people reach psychological equilibrium.

The recent study found a trio of genetic variants associated with subjective perceptions of well-being. In addition, 11 genetic variants were tied to neuroticism, and a pair of gene variations was linked with depressive symptoms. These genetic overlaps with states of mind that can be challenging to pin down were described as representing a “breakthrough” and opening up new pathways of research.

Hand Vein Thermography as a Pathway For Analyzing Emotion

Mark Thek is a Southern California entrepreneur who guides Esterline Power Systems as it provides innovative electrical power distribution solutions. His hobbies include a longstanding interest in mathematics and physics. Mark Thek also is working on the book, “The Quantification of Human Emotion.”

Analyzing human emotions through sensors is a topic of current scientific research, with hand vein thermography serving as one promising pathway. This approach involves measuring hand micro-perspirations and sweat, as exhibited by skin temperature patterns. Measurements are undertaken without actually touching the skin through thermograms, or pictorial representations of the hand’s heat radiation patterns.

The infrared camera used picks up minute aspects of temperature distribution changes, with a focus on skin tissue that contains veins and has a temperature gradient. Though this technique is an efficient way to measure emotion, it does suffer from two shortcomings: It is difficult to conduct in uncontrolled environments, where other sources of heat are present, and infrared sensors are very expensive.