Study finding more glial cells in Einstein's brain
In the 1980s, University of California, Berkeley professor Marian C. Diamond persuaded Thomas Harvey to give her samples of Einstein's brain. She compared the ratio of glial cells in Einstein's brain with that in the preserved brains of 11 men. (Glial cells provide support and nutrition in the brain, form myelin, and participate in signal transmission.) Dr. Diamond's laboratory made thin sections of Einstein's brain, each 6 micrometers thick. They then used a microscope to count the cells. Einstein's brain had more glial cells relative to neurons in all areas studied, but only in the left inferior parietal area was the difference statistically significant. This area is part of the association cortex, regions of the brain responsible for incorporating and synthesizing information from multiple other brain regions.
Diamond admits a limitation in her study is that she had only one Einstein to compare with 11 normal men. S. S. Kantha of the Osaka BioScience Institute in Japan criticized Diamond's study, as did Terence Hines of Pace University.[2] Other issues related to Diamond's study point out glial cells continue dividing as a person ages and although Einstein's brain was 76, it was compared to a group who averaged 64 in age. Additionally there is little or no information regarding the samples of brains that Einstein's brain was compared against such as IQ score, neurological diseases or other relevant factors. Diamond also admitted that research disproving the study was omitted.[8] 作者: DanteLegend 时间: 2011-12-25 00:53:17
顺便,附赠以前的bbc 报道
The secret of Einstein's immense intellect may finally have been uncovered - one area of his brain was significantly different than most people's.
The BBC's Sue Nelson: "Within seven hours of his death his brain was removed and preserved"
Albert Einstein, who discovered the theory of relativity, died in 1955, aged 76. His brain was then removed and preserved for scientific research.
Scientists at McMaster University, Ontario, Canada compared the shape and size Einstein's brain with those of 35 men and 56 women with average intelligence.
They think their findings may well explain his genius for mathematical and spatial thinking.
In general, Einstein's brain was the same as all the others except in one particular area - the region responsible for mathematical thought and the ability to think in terms of space and movement.
Albert Einstein
Extensive development of this region meant that Einstein's brain was 15% wider than the other brains studied.
Uniquely, Einstein's brain also lacked a groove that normally runs through part of this area. The researchers suggest that its absence may have allowed the neurons to communicate much more easily.
"This unusual brain anatomy may explain why Einstein thought the way he did," said Professor Sandra Witelson, who led the research published in the Lancet.
"Einstein's own description of his scientific thinking was that words did not seem to play a role. Instead he saw more or less clear images of a visual kind," she said.
Einstein allowed his brain to be studied after his death
The idea that differing abilities are determined by physical differences in the structure of the brain is currently of great interest to scientists.
"To say there is a definite link is one bridge too far, at the moment," said Professor Laurie Hall, a brain imaging expert from the University of Cambridge.
"So far the case isn't proven. But magnetic resonance and other new technologies are allowing us to start to probe those very questions."
The researchers hope that the study will encourage the donation of brain specimens from other gifted individuals.
individuals.