#psychiatric-disorders

#psychiatric-disorders

At the Winter Olympics, skiers, bobsledders, speedskaters, and many other athletes all have to master one critical moment: when to start. That split second is paramount during competition because when everyone is strong and skilled, a moment of hesitation can separate gold from silver. A competitor who hesitates too much will be left behind -but moving too early will get them disqualified.

Yet these experiences do not float free of the body. They are grounded in the brain itself. With its folds, ridges, and layers, the brain carries both the machinery of thought and the marks of our genetic inheritance. A new study shows just how deeply the two are connected. The very genes that increase vulnerability to psychiatric disorders also help shape the brain's physical architecture.