Einstein's Brain, the Corpus Callosum, & Its Connection to 60's Bumpy, Wild VW Vans vs. '10's Flat Screen "Smart Phones"
New research in the journal Brain describes measuring the connective tissue in and around the corpus callosum connecting the left and right hemispheres of Albert Einstein's preserved brain:
http://brain.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2013/09/24/brain.awt252
The researchers describe their technique of measuring the thickness of the bands of nerve fibers that connect one side of the brain to the others. Einstein had more connections between the sides and his brain was more crenulated and bumpy according to researcher Dean Falk of Florida State University:
“He did thought experiments where he’d imagine himself riding alongside a beam of light, and this is exactly the part of the brain one would expect to be very active in such thought experiments." Einstein's brain was bumpy, crenulated, full of folds and connections.
I mentioned last week that I wanted to explore the evolutions of avatars from the VW Bus of the 60's to the Smart Phone for the 2010's. The tie-in with this new brain research is interesting. We have gone from a world of bumpy, interesting, crenulated interconnections and interactions via the avatar suggested by the '60's VW bug to our much flatter, screen-connected connections of the 2010's. I imagine Einstein would not think it good for our brains. The illusion of connection over flatter and flatter worlds must be affecting our brains. We might be losing our wrinkles...
The change has been gradual...After the 60's VW bus, the 70's smiley face still connected us humans. In the 80's, the Rubik's Cube showed a shift from bumpy and crenulated to flat screens...but at least there were six, colorful, flat surfaces and they could interconnect and change and rotate.
It has been the increase in technology in the 90's (with the cell phone as avatar) that has accelerated the flatness trend. Ipods of the 2000's and Smart phones of the 2010's have continued that flatness.
Enough blogging for today. My pup and I are going out to do a little exploring on this gorgeous autumn day. We might even imagine riding a beam of light :-).
Here's hoping your ride today is bumpy, crenulated, and full of connections. I welcome your thoughts.
Crenulatedly,
Word Woman (aka Scientific Steph)
Measuring the thickness of Einstein's corpus callosum or the crenulatedness (!) of his brain seems to me not too far removed from phrenology. Anyway, Neanderthal had a bigger brain than ours. Maybe they went extinct because, as brainy nerds, no one would have sex with them?
ReplyDeleteAre English muffins crenulated?
Removed only by the thickness of his skull ;-). I wonder if your niece and the folks at Berkeley have any thoughts on the article.
ReplyDeleteAlso read about completely flat brains of people in mental health facilities...which makes me think size doesn't matter so much as crenulations. Or you could be on to something with Neanderthals.
As to English muffins, nooks and crannies or crenulated...sure. And they look pretty smart soaking up that honey, don'tcha think?!
I love your blog! I'm so glad I clicked on your new avatar photo. As for Ross's software, well, we do say that we cheat. We're not kidding. As for the city crossword puzzle, Ross is doing it the old fashioned way, but because he doesn't want ever to be on the radio (making a short, funny presentation at the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament was scary enough--and he got to rehearse that), he'll never send his answer in.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed Ross's video, especially the Spanish Inquisitor and yada yada yada. And we could flag that sweater as wonderfully appropriate! Thanks for sharing.
DeleteHi Magdalen! Thanks so much for your kind words. I am glad you clicked over here, too. I am quite new to the blogging process and am learning a lot. I have enjoyed exploring your blogs as well. Maybe I might pick your brain sometime (I promise to leave your corpus callosum intact) about moving the blog to a more accessible level. Again, my thanks for checking in over here!
ReplyDelete