New Photographs of Einstein's Brain Lead to Further Discoveries

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A study of 14 newly discovered photographs of Albert Einstein's brain that had been preserved after his death have confirmed that his brain was highly unusual in that it had many more folds and convolutions than that of an average human's brain. When Einstein died in 1955, his son Hans Albert and executor Otto Nathan gave the examining pathologist, Thomas Harvey, permission to use the brain for scientific study. Harvey proceeded to photograph the brain and cut it into 240 sections, some of which were thinly sliced into as many as 2,000 slivers for microscopic study. He distributed some of these photographs and microscopic slides to as many as 18 different researchers around the world, and many of these specimens have been lost over time.

Only six peer-reviewed publications resulted from this distribution of scientific material, but these studies found many interesting pieces of information about Einstein's brain. For example, his brain contained a greater density of neurons in some parts of it and a much higher than usual ratio of gila (cells that help neurons transmit nerve impulses) to neurons. Also, his parietal lobes had very unusual grooves and ridges.

Two of the Fourteen Photographs
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For the new study, anthropologist Dean Falk of Florida State University, alongside neurologist Frederick Lepore of the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Jersey, and Adrianne Noe, director of the National Museum of Health and Medicine (NMHM) analyzed the 14 new photographs never made public before. They found that, although Einstein's brain was average in size, it contained several regions with extra convolutions and folds that were rarely seen in other subjects. For example, the regions on the left side of the brain which are associated with motor control of the face and tongue are much larger than normal. Also, the prefrontal cortex associated with planning, focused attention, and perseverance in the face of great challenges is also much larger than normal.

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Falk commented, "In each lobe, there are regions that are exceptionally complicated in their convolutions...It may be that he used his motor cortex in extraordinary ways." Falk believes that both Einstein's upbringing and environment played a big role in the complex development of his brain. His parents were very nurturing and encouraged him to be creative and independent in not only science, but music as well. Falk adds that, "Einstein programmed his own brain...he had the right brain in the right place at the right time."

I found this article extremely interesting because I find it fascinating that geniuses can simply have an anatomical advantage over normal humans. Obviously Einstein was a brilliant man, but I wonder if he would have been able to make so many breakthrough discoveries if his brain wasn't developed the way it had been. It makes me wonder if my brain was developed differently if I could've been a genius! Or perhaps it was external factors that helped Einstein's brain develop into the complex organ it eventually became. It's hard to say, but either way it would be nice to know the secret to his smarts.

Article: Why Einstein Was a Genius
Written by: Michael Balter
http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2012/11/why-einstein-was-a-genius.html?ref=hp