Candidate genes related to spiritual mediumship: a whole-exome sequencing analysis of highly gifted mediums.
Revista brasileira de psiquiatria (Sao Paulo, Brazil : 1999) January 1, 2025 Wagner Farid Gattaz, Marianna de Abreu Costa, Angélica Salatino-Oliveira et al.
Mediums who claim to communicate with deceased persons or non-material entities carry specific genetic variants not found in their non-medium first-degree relatives. Whole-exome sequencing of 54 highly gifted mediums with over 10 years of experience and 53 relatives identified 15,669 variants exclusive to mediums, affecting 7,269 genes. Thirty-three genes were altered in at least one-third of mediums but in none of their relatives. The inflammatory pathway was most frequently affected (43.9%), with ZAP-70 translocation to the immunological synapse being particularly prominent. These genes are possible candidates for further investigations of biological underpinnings of spiritual experiences like mediumship.