Einstein's brain: Even on the surface, extraordinary
At the time of his death of an aortic aneurysm at age 76, Albert Einstein's brain was no bigger, and weighed no more, than the brain of an average older male. But beneath that unique organ's external folds and fissures, our universe was re-conceived. So not surprisingly, when photographs of Einstein's postmortem brain unexpectedly came to light recently, scientists were keen to find evidence of the genius that lay within.
The result is a remarkably detailed look at the surface of Einstein's brain, published recently in the journal Brain. Among the unusual features of Einstein's cerebral cortex, portrayed in a series of 14 high-quality photographs, are evidence of his early training as a violinist, his highly-evolved skill in imagining events and simulating their consequences, and his remarkable powers of non-verbal visuospatial processing.
These tantalizing pieces of evidence are not obvious: In most cases, they must be deduced by the existence of extra folds, larger-than-usual bulges or other anatomical quirks seen on the surface of the cerebral cortex.
The "tension-based theory" of how the brain's convolutions and sulci are formed suggests that the surface of the brain -- its growth limited by the skull -- folds in on itself to make room as clusters of neurons connect, reconnect and reorganize themselves with mental exercise. The resulting growth in neurons and connective tissue should show up as asymmetry in the shapes and sizes of the brain's hemispheres, and in the distinctive sub-areas of the brain that process perception, movement and high-level thought.
More at: http://www.latimes.com/health/boostershots/la-heb-einsteins-brain-extraordinary-20121127,0,352994.story
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