Cookie Consent by Cookie Consent by TermsFeed
 
Bradshaw Foundation Rock Art News
Bradshaw Foundation Rock Art News
Bradshaw Foundation Rock Art News
Bradshaw Foundation - Latest News
Seeking the origin of human artistic genius
Wednesday 08 August 2018

How mental illness changed human history - for the better: David Whitley at TEDxManhattanBeach.

Seeking the origin of human artistic genius - David Whitley at TEDxManhattanBeach

The End Chamber's monumental panel, twelve metres long, is organised around a central alcove in which a small horse has been drawn. To the left, the Panel of Rhinoceroses and to the right, the Panel of Lions. As presented in the Pont-d'Arc Cavern, the name given to the reproduction of Chauvet-Pont d'Arc.

Archaeologist David Whitley suggests that the strengths and weaknesses of humans are deeply intertwined and inter-dependent. He shares his journey, taking us back 40,000 years, to discover the origin of human artistic genius.

 

Recent genetic research on mood disorders indicate that three of the gene variants that control our serotonin and dopamine systems mutated between 40 and 50 thousand years ago; essentially at the same time as this first 'great' art.

Engravings made by fingers in the Hillaire Chamber. As presented in the Pont-d'Arc Cavern.

In other words, the genes that control mood disorders essentially appeared at the same time as artistic genius. We can therefore infer that artistic genius is partly a function of genetic mutations, and of of 'mental illness'. By extension, ‘mental illness’ changed human history. Or is it ‘gene enhancement’?

Subsequent to the TEDx talk, Whitley explains that geneticists have determined that one of the genes implicated specifically in depression was inherited from inter-breeding with Neanderthal. In other words, outside of Africa during the early Upper Paleolithic. A process called a genetic sweep could easily have passed this trait across the world. He emphasizes that mood disorders are complex diseases; no single genes cause them, and environmental factors always play a part.

Read more about David Whitley:

http://www.bradshawfoundation.com/news/cave_art_paintings.php?id=-Whitley-on-Chauvet

Comment
Rock Art
Rock carvings rediscovered in Central Brazil
by Bradshaw Foundation
Wednesday 20 March 2024
Petition to save Vingen petroglyphs in Norway
by Bradshaw Foundation
Tuesday 13 February 2024
Norway's Vingen petroglyphs at risk
by Bradshaw Foundation
Tuesday 13 February 2024
BRAG 2024 in Scotland
by Bradshaw Foundation
Thursday 01 February 2024
Sahara Rock Art Expedition: Algeria 2024
by Bradshaw Foundation
Tuesday 28 November 2023
Neanderthal art claimed in the Loire Valley
by Bradshaw Foundation
Thursday 23 November 2023
Cave art discovered on Crete
by Bradshaw Foundation
Monday 20 November 2023
Petroglyphs of Checta receive Congressional protection
by Bradshaw Foundation
Tuesday 31 October 2023
Jean Clottes attends tribute
by Bradshaw Foundation
Thursday 26 October 2023
Pictograph vandalism in Ontario
by Bradshaw Foundation
Wednesday 20 September 2023
Sahara & Aïr Mountains Safari in Niger 2023
by Bradshaw Foundation
Monday 17 July 2023
Rock Art & Wilderness Safari in Namibia 2023
by Bradshaw Foundation
Sunday 09 July 2023
British Rock Art Group 2023
by Bradshaw Foundation
Tuesday 27 June 2023
Oldest Known Neanderthal Engravings
by Bradshaw Foundation
Monday 26 June 2023
Lascaux VR in the UK
by Bradshaw Foundation
Thursday 27 April 2023
Protecting Murujuga's rock art
by Bradshaw Foundation
Friday 17 March 2023
Follow the Bradshaw Foundation on social media for news & updates
Follow the Bradshaw Foundation
on social media for news & updates
Follow the Bradshaw Foundation on social media for news & updates
Follow the Bradshaw Foundation
on social media for news & updates
If you have enjoyed visiting this website
please consider adding a link © Bradshaw Foundation
 
 
ROCK ART NETWORK
Rock Art Network Bradshaw Foundation Getty Conservation Institute
ROCK ART
Rock carvings rediscovered in Central Brazil
by Bradshaw Foundation
Wednesday 20 March 2024
Petition to save Vingen petroglyphs in Norway
by Bradshaw Foundation
Tuesday 13 February 2024
Norway's Vingen petroglyphs at risk
by Bradshaw Foundation
Tuesday 13 February 2024
BRAG 2024 in Scotland
by Bradshaw Foundation
Thursday 01 February 2024
Sahara Rock Art Expedition: Algeria 2024
by Bradshaw Foundation
Tuesday 28 November 2023
Neanderthal art claimed in the Loire Valley
by Bradshaw Foundation
Thursday 23 November 2023
Cave art discovered on Crete
by Bradshaw Foundation
Monday 20 November 2023
Petroglyphs of Checta receive Congressional protection
by Bradshaw Foundation
Tuesday 31 October 2023
Jean Clottes attends tribute
by Bradshaw Foundation
Thursday 26 October 2023
Pictograph vandalism in Ontario
by Bradshaw Foundation
Wednesday 20 September 2023
Sahara & Aïr Mountains Safari in Niger 2023
by Bradshaw Foundation
Monday 17 July 2023
Rock Art & Wilderness Safari in Namibia 2023
by Bradshaw Foundation
Sunday 09 July 2023
British Rock Art Group 2023
by Bradshaw Foundation
Tuesday 27 June 2023
Oldest Known Neanderthal Engravings
by Bradshaw Foundation
Monday 26 June 2023
Lascaux VR in the UK
by Bradshaw Foundation
Thursday 27 April 2023
Protecting Murujuga's rock art
by Bradshaw Foundation
Friday 17 March 2023
Bradshaw Foundation Donate Friends
Support our work & become a
Friend of the Foundation
 
 
 
Bradshaw Foundation YouTube
Bradshaw Foundation iShop Shop Store
Bradshaw Foundation iShop Shop Store
Bradshaw Foundation iShop Shop Store