Episode 50: Toxoplasma

Episode 50: Toxoplasma

Author: Tom Chivers and Stuart Ritchie September 24, 2024 Duration: 1:08:48
Science Fictions
ScienceTechnology

Been feeling a little strange lately? A bit impulsive, maybe? Feeling a sudden urge to get a pet cat? Sorry to say it, but maybe you’re infected with a scary mind control parasite: specifically, the paraside Toxoplasma gondii.

Or… maybe not. It turns out that, despite popular belief, the supposed behavioural effects of T. gondii are supported by very weak scientific evidence. In this episode of The Studies Show, Tom and Stuart explain.

The Studies Show is sponsored by Works in Progress magazine. It’s the no.1 destination online if you’re interested in “Progress Studies”: research on how things got better in the past and might get better in future. Whether it’s medical technology, construction materials, or policy innovation, you can read detailed essays on it at worksinprogress.co.

Show notes

* Alex Tabbarok’s review of Parasite, arguing people took the wrong lessons from the film

* Zombie ant fungus description

* Theory for how the horsehair worm affects its host

* Scepticism about whether it involves “mind control”

* Description of acute toxoplasmosis

* Tiny study on rats and cat urine

* Well-cited (but also tiny) PNAS study on rats, mice, and cat urine

* Review of toxoplasma and behavioural effects

* Very useful sceptical article about toxoplasma’s effects on rodent and human behaviour (source of the quotes on Alzheimer’s)

* Another (somewhat older) sceptical article

* Study on getting humans to smell cat (and other) urine

* Preprint on (self-reported!) toxoplasma infection and psychological traits

* Initial, smaller entrepreneurship study

* Later, larger entrepreneurship study (from Denmark)

* Meta-analysis on whether childhood cat exposure is related to schizophrenia

* Dunedin Cohort Study paper on toxoplasma and life outcomes

* “The Toxoplasma of Rage” on Slate Star Codex

Credits

* The Studies Show is produced by Julian Mayers at Yada Yada Productions.



This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sciencefictionspod.substack.com/subscribe

Every week, Tom Chivers and Stuart Ritchie pull apart the biggest arguments and most confusing claims making headlines. Science Fictions isn't just about celebrating breakthroughs; it's a necessary dive into the messy, contested, and often surprising realities of how science actually works. You'll hear them unpack heated debates, examine questionable studies, and explore why even solid research can sometimes lead to public confusion. This podcast serves as a guide through the noise, separating compelling evidence from overblown narratives. Each episode feels like a conversation with two deeply informed friends who aren't afraid to ask tough questions, offering clarity on topics that matter. For anyone curious about the stories behind the science headlines, this is an essential listen. Tune in for thoughtful analysis that goes beyond the press release, grounded in a genuine fascination with how we know what we know.
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