Betazoid

• Appearance: Mammalian; black irises, otherwise largely indistinguishable from Humans
• Homeworld: Betazed
• Biological notes
  • Telepathic, able to communicate directly among one another, other telepathic species
    • In certain particular situations, able to communicate with non-telepathic species
    • Telepathy tends to be extremely powerful as compared with other species
    • Vast majority of Betazoids gain telepathic abilities upon puberty (TNG Novel: The Battle of Betazed; TNG: "Tin Man")
      • Small fraction of a percent are telepathic from birth (TNG Novel: The Battle of Betazed; TNG: "Tin Man")
        • Such individuals generally suffer debilitating social and psychological damage if not carefully guided due to uncontrolled and constant exposure of thoughts of the general populace (TNG Novel: The Battle of Betazed; TNG: "Tin Man")
    • Telepathic abilities centered in central cortex of the brain, mediated by the neurotransmitter psilosynine (TNG: "Dark Page", "Eye of the Beholder"; TNG Novel: The Battle of Betazed)
      • Psilosynine levels deplete with heavy telepathic usage (TNG: "Dark Page")
      • Levels can be artificially suppressed to reduce telepathic sensitivity (TNG: "Eye of the Beholder")
    • Betazoid telepathic contact produces heightened activity in the subject's hippocampus (TNG Novel: Q & A)
• Cultural notes
  • Betazoid food
  • Betazoid faith
  • Historically, Betazoids used blowguns to defend themselves and hunt (TNG Novel: The Battle of Betazed)
    • Shaft formed from the corzon plant, firing tarna thorns dipped in poison of the zintaba root (TNG Novel: The Battle of Betazed)
  • Culture heavily impacted by natural strong telepathic talent throughout the population (TNG Novel: The Battle of Betazed)
    • Violence and war largely abandoned centuries ago, due to natural ability to allow for mutual understanding of inner state (TNG Novel: The Battle of Betazed)
    • Privacy viewed as more a lack of intrusion than a personal protection
      • Few feelings or beliefs considered requiring secrecy, with little shame in sharing opinions
      • Residences still tend to be built with an eye towards physical distance, to allow some telepathic quiet (TNG Novel: The Battle of Betazed)
      • Lack of nudity taboo likely a result of this as well
  • Betazoid society divided into noble houses
    • At least five houses (TNG)
      • Each house explicitly founded at some point in the past (TTN Novel: Taking Wing)
    • Each designated with a number (TNG)
    • Male heirs known as "Scions", female heirs known as "Daughters" (TNG Novel: The Battle of Betazed)
  • Significant gifts such as dowries delivered via Betazoid gift boxes (TNG: "Haven"; DS9 Novel: The 34th Rule)
    • Large metallic containers with a configurable, redesignable animatronic face speaking a pre-programmed message upon delivery (TNG: "Haven"; DS9 Novel: The 34th Rule)
  • Betazoid artistic traditions include something known as a "water sculpture" (TNG Novel: A Time to Kill, A Time for War, A Time for Peace)