In the fictional Star Trek universe, Betazoids are a sentient humanoid species from the planet Betazed, a member of the United Federation of Planets. They might represent the New Age culture on Earth with its placing of high value upon feelings. Star Trek collectively refers to a science-fiction franchise spanning six unique television series, 726 episodes and ten motion pictures in addition to hundreds of novels, video games, fan stories and other works of fiction all set within the same fictional universe created by Gene Roddenberry in the mid-1960s. ... A planet is generally considered to be a relatively large mass of accreted matter in orbit around a star that is not a star itself. ... Betazed is a planet in the fictional television, movie, and book series Star Trek. ... In the Star Trek fictional universe, the United Federation of Planets (UFP) – widely referred to and known amongst fans as merely the Federation – is a federation of more than 150 member planets and thousands of colonies. ... New Age describes a broad movement characterized by alternative approaches to traditional Western culture. ...

Physically, Betazoids closely resemble humans with the sole distinguishing physical characteristic that their irises are totally black. The Betazoid brain contains the paracortex, which is a lobe devoted specifically to telepathy. Betazoids are empathic and telepathic (they can communicate telepathically with other Betazoids and some other aliens, and can sense the emotions of a wide variety of species). Betazoid/human hybrids (like Deanna Troi), however, are just empaths, not telepaths (although still able to communicate telepathically with full Betazoids). Comparative brain sizes In animals, the brain, or encephalon (Greek for in the head), acts as the control center of the central nervous system. ... Telepathy is the communication of messages or thoughts directly from one mind to another. ... Empathy is awareness of the thoughts, feelings, or states of mind of others, perhaps by means of some degree of vicarious experience of others feelings or mental states. ... Commander Deanna Troi is a fictional character in the Star Trek universe, played by the actress Marina Sirtis in the series Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG), Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: Enterprise (the latter two only in guest appearances), and in several Star Trek films. ...

While most Betazoids develop their telepathic powers at the onset of adolescence, and they gradually develop after that, a small number are born fully telepathic, although no one knows exactly why. Betazoids born with their telepathic abilities fully developed almost never lead normal lives - they are constantly bombarded with the thoughts of others around them, and drive themselves to distraction attempting to block out the never-ending telepathic "attack".

The REM frequency of sleeping Betazoids is different than that of most humanoids. Rapid eye movement (REM) is the stage of sleep during which the most vivid (though not all) dreams occur. ... The term humanoid refers to any being whose body structure resembles that of a human. ...

Because they can sense the emotions and sometimes thoughts of others, their culture has evolved to be totally honest and nonprivate; for example, their wedding ceremonies are performed in the nude. Betazoids feel uncomfortable around species whose minds they cannot read (including the Ferengi and the Breen). Ferengi on Star Trek: The Next Generation The Ferengi are a fictional extraterrestrial race from the Star Trek universe. ... Breen commander appearing on Star Trek Deep Space 9 The Breen are a species in the science fiction franchise Star Trek. ...

Betazoid society includes a complex hereditary nobility. For example, Betazoid ambassador Lwaxana Troi was formally titled Daughter of the Fifth House, Holder of the Sacred Chalice of Riix, and Heir to the Holy Rings of Betazed. Members of the nobility are usually betrothed at a very early age. Majel Barrett as Lwaxana Troi, Daughter of the Fifth House, Holder of the Sacred Chalice of Rixx, Heir to the Holy Rings of Betazed on Star Trek: The Next Generation. ...

The gestation period for Betazoids is typically 10 months. At around age 40, Betazoid females enter a period of increased sexual desire called "the phase" [1]. A Betazoid woman's sex drive will typically quadruple in intensity during the phase. Gestation is the carrying of an embryo or fetus inside a female viviparous animal. ...

At one time, it was fashionable for Betazoid women to wear elaborate wigs that encaged small animals. The practice, which was cruel to the animals, was stopped when one (unknown) woman stood up against it. WIG, originally an acronym for Warszawski Indeks Giełdowy (Warsaw Stock Exchange Index) is the oldest index for the Warsaw Stock Exchange. ...

The Betazoid word imzadi means "beloved", although in the (non-canon, like all Star Trek books) novel "Imzadi", by Peter David, the meaning is expanded to mean "the first", as in the first to touch one's soul. This explains why Deanna Troi calls Will Riker imzadi when they meet in the episode "Encounter at Farpoint", even though they had not been lovers for years. A word from the science-fiction television series Star Trek The Next Generation. ... In the context of fiction, the canon of a fictional universe comprises those novels, stories, films, etc. ... Peter Allen David (born September 23, 1956) is an American writer, best known for his work in comic books and Star Trek novels. ... For the political scientist, see William H. Riker. ... Encounter at Farpoint was the first episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. ...

During the Dominion War, Betazed was occupied by Cardassian/Dominion forces. In the fictional Star Trek universe, the Dominion War is a war between the Dominion, Cardassians and Breen on one side, and the Alpha Quadrant alliance of the United Federation of Planets, Klingon Empire, and the Romulans. ... It has been suggested that Cardassian military ranks be merged into this article or section. ... In the fictional Star Trek universe, the Dominion is a ruthless and militaristic Gamma Quadrant state, consisting of many different races, with ultimate power held by the xenophobic Changelings. ...

Famous Betazoids

• Deanna Troi
• Lwaxana Troi
• Tam Elbrun
• Lon Suder

Commander Deanna Troi is a fictional character in the Star Trek universe, played by the actress Marina Sirtis in the series Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG), Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: Enterprise (the latter two only in guest appearances), and in several Star Trek films. ... Majel Barrett as Lwaxana Troi, Daughter of the Fifth House, Holder of the Sacred Chalice of Rixx, Heir to the Holy Rings of Betazed on Star Trek: The Next Generation. ... Tam Elbrun is a fictional character in the television series, Star Trek: The Next Generation. ... Lon Suder is a fictional character on the television series Star Trek Voyager. ...

External links

Betazoid article at Memory Alpha, the Star Trek wiki Memory Alpha is a collaborative project launched in November 2003 by Harry Doddema and Dan Carlson. ... Star Trek collectively refers to a science-fiction franchise spanning six unique television series, 726 episodes and ten motion pictures in addition to hundreds of novels, video games, fan stories and other works of fiction all set within the same fictional universe created by Gene Roddenberry in the mid-1960s. ... Look up Wiki in Wiktionary, the free dictionary Wikibooks has more about this subject: Wiki Science A wiki (IPA: <wee-kee> or <wick-ey>) is a type of website that allows users to easily add and edit content and is especially suited for collaborative writing. ...

• startrek.com: Betazoid