> Then again, perhaps this is much ado about nothing. Consider > the following case that was described in the journal "The Lancet" > and imagine how many neurons are involved here? > http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2807%2961127-1/fulltext > > I love this short article because it shows how plastic the brain > is though I wonder what it says about French civil servants. ;-) > > -Mike Palij ____________________________________________________________________ I read this article with a similar response in that number of neurons might not be as crucial as assumed if a man with severe brain atrophy is able to function normally as a French civil and family man. The CT and MRI scans reveal minimal brain mass with "severe dilation of the lateral ventricles . . massive enlargement of the lateral, third and fourth ventricles (with a) very thin cortical mantle." His cognitive abilities have been compromised as shown by revealing an I.Q. of 75 and, as Mike suggests with some levity, it begs the question regarding the degree of cognitive demands of French civil servants. Regardless, it appears that the severely reduced brain mass of this man would never have been suspected by those around him who are privy to his day-to-day functioning. It suggests that number of interconnections among neurons might be just as (or more) of an issue in determining brain power as number of neurons.
BTW, Lancet provides the cool option of downloading the brain scans unto ones power point, which I, a distinct non-techie, was able to do with ease. Joan jwarm...@oakton.edu --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: arch...@jab.org. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=15392 or send a blank email to leave-15392-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
