4 ms·

> A big part of it, is seeing “connections,” in everything. I've lately been wondering if schizophrenia causes this connection-seeing, or if connections cause

by patcon 1mo ago

> A big part of it, is seeing “connections,” in everything. I've lately been wondering if schizophrenia causes this connection-seeing, or if connections cause indicators of schizophrenia/psychosis. I've lived in cities like New Orleans, where everything seems magically connected through something about the culture and relationship structure imho, which results in intense feelings of synchronicity. There seems to be a high proportion of schizophrenia and general mania in New Orleans. And now LLMs (which are always making and reinforcing connections, right or wrong) lead me to wonder about this direction of causality once more...

Alex3917 1mo ago
> I've lately been wondering if schizophrenia causes this connection-seeing, or if connections cause indicators of schizophrenia/psychosis. IANAD, but my reading of the literature is that the genes for schizophrenia cause connection seeing, which on its own is mostly net neutral (slightly negative on average, but positive for many people). But it’s not having the ability to think critically about those connections, along with trauma and lack of social support, that causes this ability to see connections to manifest as mental illness. The genes for schizophrenia on their own though are, on average, only slightly net negative in terms of their impact.
- patcon 1mo ago
  Oooooo thank you for that context..! I read random paper abstracts when they come across my attention, but don't have a deep knowledge. I can def see LLMs changing the strength of one's ability to resist and critique this connection-seeing. We live in strange times
kjellsbells 1mo ago
I sometimes wonder if the weird vibe (and magic) of New Orleans has something to do with the absolutely swampy conditions. NOLA is fungus central just because of the heat and moisture. Growth on every building, every tree, wall, etc. Can mental illnesses be caused by fungal infections? I wonder.

by patcon 1mo ago

Alex3917 1mo ago

> I've lately been wondering if schizophrenia causes this connection-seeing, or if connections cause indicators of schizophrenia/psychosis. IANAD, but my reading of the literature is that the genes for schizophrenia cause connection seeing, which on its own is mostly net neutral (slightly negative on average, but positive for many people). But it’s not having the ability to think critically about those connections, along with trauma and lack of social support, that causes this ability to see connections to manifest as mental illness. The genes for schizophrenia on their own though are, on average, only slightly net negative in terms of their impact.

patcon 1mo ago
Oooooo thank you for that context..! I read random paper abstracts when they come across my attention, but don't have a deep knowledge. I can def see LLMs changing the strength of one's ability to resist and critique this connection-seeing. We live in strange times

kjellsbells 1mo ago

I sometimes wonder if the weird vibe (and magic) of New Orleans has something to do with the absolutely swampy conditions. NOLA is fungus central just because of the heat and moisture. Growth on every building, every tree, wall, etc. Can mental illnesses be caused by fungal infections? I wonder.