On Thu, 19 Oct 2000, Weisskirch, Rob wrote:
>
> A student said today that she heard that boys with blonde hair and blue eyes
> were more hyperactive. Does anyone know anything about this?
My suggestion is a bit far-fetched, but at least possible. The
genetic disorder phenylketonuria (PKU) involves dysfunction of
the phenylalanine---->tyrosine biochemical pathway. An end-point
of this pathway is the synthesis of melanin. Consequently, people
with uncontrolled PKU have decreased melanin, and tend to be
blonde and blue-eyed. They also exhibit hyperactivity and
agitated behaviour.
This could be the origin of this claim. However, dietary
treatment for PKU is strikingly successful, and I doubt that
there exist any such cases today, except for those unfortunate
enough to have been born (40+ years ago?) before this treatment
was discovered.
Still more speculatively, the PKU example does suggest a link
between decreased melanin and hyperactivity. As being blonde and
blue-eyed indicates decreased melanin production, this suggests a
possible link to hyperactivity. But while it's nice to
have a plausible explanation, we need to know whether the claim
it explains (blondes are more hyperactive) is, in fact, true.
-Stephen (once blonde, still somewhat blue-eyed, but never
noticeably hyperactive)
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Stephen Black, Ph.D. tel: (819) 822-9600 ext 2470
Department of Psychology fax: (819) 822-9661
Bishop's University e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Lennoxville, QC
J1M 1Z7
Canada Department web page at http://www.ubishops.ca/ccc/div/soc/psy
Check out TIPS listserv for teachers of psychology at:
http://www.frostburg.edu/dept/psyc/southerly/tips/
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