Do You Have a Little Einstein in You?
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Everything you learn, sooner-or-later, proves valuable. Discover the tiny difference in Einstein's brain that guaranteed his genius. And how reading and learning will produce it in your brain.
Got Glial Cells?
Do you think Einstein’s brain showed evidence of his unique genius?
His body was cremated in 1955 (age 76); his brain was removed and retained by Dr. Thomas Harvey, pathologist at Princeton (N.J.) Hospital.
Professor Einstein once quoted Epicurus, (341-270 CBE),
“Death is nothing to us – since when we are – Death has not come,
and when death has come – we are not!”
He willed his Brain for research to Dr. Harvey, who sectioned it into 240 pieces.
Dr. Harvey shared sections with experts at UC at Berkeley, University of Alabama, and McMaster University, in Ontario, Canada.
The remainding pieces of Einstein’s brain were given to Dr. Elliot Krauss, chief pathologist, at Princeton Hospital in 1996.
The Paper
Dr. Marian C. Diamond and Thomas Harvey, et al. submitted their research to the journal of Experimental Neurology. See: vol. 88, pages 198-204, in 1985.
They concluded that though his brain weight less than average, his White Matter, (mostly Glial cells), were significantly more numerous than eleven other brains used as a control. His Gray Matter, (neurons also known as nerve-cells), were not distinguished in any way.
The Difference
Glial cells do not operate synapses, nor have neurotransmitters; they serve-and-protect neurons by maintaining their life-support systems. Our central nervous system, (brain and spinal cords), consists of a combination of neurons – nerve cells – and up to twenty-times more Glial cells.
One area of Einstein’s brain did show a significant difference – Area 39, in his left hemisphere. Researchers discovered fewer neurons to Glial cells than normal brains.
The research team concluded that his working neurons required increased ‘metabolic need’ (Glial cells), because he may have had superior thinking behaviors and conceptual talents. Einstein’s White Matter (the Glials), is expressive of powerful Gray Matter activity.
Today
In the following two decades, research has proven that Glials (also/known/as neuroglia cells), are more than just Housekeeping cells. They are active in neuronal communication, and link our neurons to their blood supply.
Today we know Glial cells (Astrocytes in particular), are deeply involved in synaptic transmissions. They manage communication in the synaptic gap, and modify the learning pace. Wait – without active synaptic activity, there are no cognitive skills.
Look at it this way – Glials, which insulate our neurons, also modify the growth of our axons and dendritic-spines – leading to active planning, reason and organization.
Concentration (attention), long-term memory, and creative imagery are the functions that produce western civilization.
Area 39
Einstein’s Area 39 shows Glials that are extraordinary in number, perhaps leading to his Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921. It is the sole difference between his brain and the rest of us.
By the way, his brain weighed 1,230 grams, while the average brain comes in at 1,400 grams. Maybe he was on a diet.
For Fun, Einstein Said
“Marriage is an unsuccessful attempt to make something lasting out of an incident!”
“Two things are infinite – the universe and human stupidity. And I am not sure about the universe!”
Endwords
Let’s finish with more of his own words.
“Experiencing is knowledge, everything else is mere information.”
“I never think of the future. It comes soon enough.”
“Gravitation is not responsible for people falling-in-love.”
And finally,
“Anyone who has never made a mistake – has
never tried anything new.”
See ya,
copyright © H. Bernard Wechsler www.speedlearning.org hbw@speedlearning.org
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