As I pursue travel on the highways and byways around my native habitation … I am often amazed at some of the driving skills I see on the roadways.
The abrupt exits from the outside interstate lanes sometimes traversing four lanes of traffic, the handicapped placard holding muscle bound bruisers heading into Gold’s Gym, and those compelled to travel in the opposite direction of prevailing traffic to mention a few.
UC Irvine Neurology Professor Dr. Steven Cramer found that persons having a certain gene variant performed 30% worse on driving tests than those who did not have it.
He also determined that about 30% of Americans have the variant.
The issue arises secondary to limited secretion of a protein called “brain derived neurotrophic factor” (BDNF) which is normally found in the area of the brain controlling a specific activity … like driving a vehicle.
The protein facilitates communication among brain cells and promotes memory.
Testing of individuals on a 15 lap simulated driving course with difficult twists and turns was performed. The test was to attempt a determination of how effective the participants could learn to navigate the course.
Participants with the gene variant which limited secretion of BDNF did consistently worse on the driving test.
The lack of a commercial test kit precludes any mass testing of drivers in Irmo at this time. I apologize for having such blatant animosity for your poor driving skills in the past. I didn’t realize that you all suffer from a medical condition. I’ll try to be more understanding in the future!
