Skip to main content
Top
Published in: Brain Structure and Function 5/2018

01-06-2018 | Brain Mythology

A critical view of the quest for brain structural markers of Albert Einstein’s special talents (a pot of gold under the rainbow)

Author: Jorge A. Colombo

Published in: Brain Structure and Function | Issue 5/2018

Login to get access

Abstract

Assertions regarding attempts to link glial and macrostructural brain events with cognitive performance regarding Albert Einstein, are critically reviewed. One basic problem arises from attempting to draw causal relationships regarding complex, delicately interactive functional processes involving finely tuned molecular and connectivity phenomena expressed in cognitive performance, based on highly variable brain structural events of a single, aged, formalin fixed brain. Data weaknesses and logical flaws are considered. In other instances, similar neuroanatomical observations received different interpretations and conclusions, as those drawn, e.g., from schizophrenic brains. Observations on white matter events also raise methodological queries. Additionally, neurocognitive considerations on other intellectual aptitudes of A. Einstein were simply ignored.
Literature
go back to reference Anderson B, Harvey T (1996) Alterations in cortical thickness and neuronal density in the frontal cortex of Albert Einstein. Neurosci Lett 21:161–164CrossRef Anderson B, Harvey T (1996) Alterations in cortical thickness and neuronal density in the frontal cortex of Albert Einstein. Neurosci Lett 21:161–164CrossRef
go back to reference Bender AR, Raz N (2015) Normal-appearing cerebral white matter in healthy adults:mean change over 2 years and individual differences in change. Neurobiol Aging 36:1834–1848CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral Bender AR, Raz N (2015) Normal-appearing cerebral white matter in healthy adults:mean change over 2 years and individual differences in change. Neurobiol Aging 36:1834–1848CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
go back to reference Bender AR, Völkle MC, Raz N (2016) Differential aging of cerebral white matter in middle-aged and older adults: a seven-year follow-up. Neuroimage 125:74–83CrossRefPubMed Bender AR, Völkle MC, Raz N (2016) Differential aging of cerebral white matter in middle-aged and older adults: a seven-year follow-up. Neuroimage 125:74–83CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Byne W, Bleier R, Houston L (1988) Variations in human corpus callosum do not predict gender: a study using magnetic resonance imaging. Behav Neurosci 102:222–227CrossRefPubMed Byne W, Bleier R, Houston L (1988) Variations in human corpus callosum do not predict gender: a study using magnetic resonance imaging. Behav Neurosci 102:222–227CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Colombo JA (2000) Comentarios a propósito del cerebro de Albert Einstein. Medicina 60:530–532PubMed Colombo JA (2000) Comentarios a propósito del cerebro de Albert Einstein. Medicina 60:530–532PubMed
go back to reference Colombo JA (2001) A columnar-supporting mode of astroglial architecture in the cerebral cortex of adult primates? Neurobiol 9:1–16CrossRef Colombo JA (2001) A columnar-supporting mode of astroglial architecture in the cerebral cortex of adult primates? Neurobiol 9:1–16CrossRef
go back to reference Colombo JA (2017a) Creatividad o domesticación. Buenos Aires Books, Buenos Aires (ISBN 978-987-46237-5-1) Colombo JA (2017a) Creatividad o domesticación. Buenos Aires Books, Buenos Aires (ISBN 978-987-46237-5-1)
go back to reference Colombo JA, Yañez A, Lipina S (1997) Interlaminar astroglial processes in the cerebral cortex of non human primates: response to injury. J Brain Res 38:503–512 Colombo JA, Yañez A, Lipina S (1997) Interlaminar astroglial processes in the cerebral cortex of non human primates: response to injury. J Brain Res 38:503–512
go back to reference Colombo JA, Napp MI, Yañez A, Reisin H (2001) Tissue printing of astroglial interlaminar processes from human and non-human primate cerebral cortex. Brain Res Bull 55:561–565CrossRefPubMed Colombo JA, Napp MI, Yañez A, Reisin H (2001) Tissue printing of astroglial interlaminar processes from human and non-human primate cerebral cortex. Brain Res Bull 55:561–565CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Colombo JA, Quinn B, Puissant V (2002) Disruption of astroglial interlaminar processes in Alzheimer’s disease. Brain Res Bull 58:235–242CrossRefPubMed Colombo JA, Quinn B, Puissant V (2002) Disruption of astroglial interlaminar processes in Alzheimer’s disease. Brain Res Bull 58:235–242CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Colombo JA, Reisin HD, Miguel-Hidalgo JJ, Rajkowska G (2006) Cerebral cortex astroglia and the brain of a genius: a propos of A. Einstein’s. Brain Res Rev 52:257–263CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral Colombo JA, Reisin HD, Miguel-Hidalgo JJ, Rajkowska G (2006) Cerebral cortex astroglia and the brain of a genius: a propos of A. Einstein’s. Brain Res Rev 52:257–263CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
go back to reference Cragg BG (1975) The density of synapses and neurons in normal mentally defective ageing human brains. Brain 96:81–90CrossRef Cragg BG (1975) The density of synapses and neurons in normal mentally defective ageing human brains. Brain 96:81–90CrossRef
go back to reference Diamond MC, Scheibel AB, Murphy GM, Harvey T (1985) On the brain of a scientist: Albert Einstein. Exp Neurol 88:198–204CrossRefPubMed Diamond MC, Scheibel AB, Murphy GM, Harvey T (1985) On the brain of a scientist: Albert Einstein. Exp Neurol 88:198–204CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Falk D, Lepore FE, Noe A (2013) The cerebral cortex of Albert Einstein: a description and preliminary analysis of unpublished photographs. Brain 136:1304–1327CrossRefPubMed Falk D, Lepore FE, Noe A (2013) The cerebral cortex of Albert Einstein: a description and preliminary analysis of unpublished photographs. Brain 136:1304–1327CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Gaser C, Schlaug G (2003) Brain structures differ between musicians and non-musicians. J Neurosci 23:9240–9245CrossRefPubMed Gaser C, Schlaug G (2003) Brain structures differ between musicians and non-musicians. J Neurosci 23:9240–9245CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Gupta T, Singh B, Kapoor K, Gupta M, Kochhar S (2008b) Age and sex related variations in corpus callosal morphology. Nepal Med Coll J 10:215–221PubMed Gupta T, Singh B, Kapoor K, Gupta M, Kochhar S (2008b) Age and sex related variations in corpus callosal morphology. Nepal Med Coll J 10:215–221PubMed
go back to reference Hines T (2014) Neuromythology of Einstein’s brain. Brain Cognit 88:21–25CrossRef Hines T (2014) Neuromythology of Einstein’s brain. Brain Cognit 88:21–25CrossRef
go back to reference Koelsch S, Fritz T, Schulze K, Alsop D, Schlaug G (2005) Adults and children processing musician fMRI study. Neuroimage 25:1068–1076CrossRefPubMed Koelsch S, Fritz T, Schulze K, Alsop D, Schlaug G (2005) Adults and children processing musician fMRI study. Neuroimage 25:1068–1076CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Luders E, Narr KL, Bilder RM, Thompson PM, Szeszko PR, Hamilton L, Toga AW (2007) Positive correlations between corpus callosum thickness and intelligence. Neuroimage 37:1457–1464CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral Luders E, Narr KL, Bilder RM, Thompson PM, Szeszko PR, Hamilton L, Toga AW (2007) Positive correlations between corpus callosum thickness and intelligence. Neuroimage 37:1457–1464CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
go back to reference Men W, Falk D, Sun T, Chen W, Li J, Yin D, Zang L, Fan M (2014) The corpus callosum of Albert Einstein‘s brain: another clue to his high intelligence? Brain 137:1–8CrossRef Men W, Falk D, Sun T, Chen W, Li J, Yin D, Zang L, Fan M (2014) The corpus callosum of Albert Einstein‘s brain: another clue to his high intelligence? Brain 137:1–8CrossRef
go back to reference Münte TF, Altenmüller E, Jäncke L (2002) The musician’s brain as a model of neuroplasticity. Nat Rev Neurosci 3:473–479CrossRefPubMed Münte TF, Altenmüller E, Jäncke L (2002) The musician’s brain as a model of neuroplasticity. Nat Rev Neurosci 3:473–479CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Reisin HD, Colombo JA (2002) Considerations on the astroglial architecture and the columnar organization of the cerebral cortex. Cell Mol Neurobiol 22:633–644CrossRefPubMed Reisin HD, Colombo JA (2002) Considerations on the astroglial architecture and the columnar organization of the cerebral cortex. Cell Mol Neurobiol 22:633–644CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Reuter-Lorenz PA, Stanczak L (2000) Differential effects of aging on the functions of the corpus callosum. Dev Neuropsychol 18:113–137CrossRefPubMed Reuter-Lorenz PA, Stanczak L (2000) Differential effects of aging on the functions of the corpus callosum. Dev Neuropsychol 18:113–137CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Schlaug G (2001) The brain of musicians a model for functional and structural adaptation. Ann NY Acad Sci 930:281–299CrossRefPubMed Schlaug G (2001) The brain of musicians a model for functional and structural adaptation. Ann NY Acad Sci 930:281–299CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Selemon LD, Rajkowska G, Goldman-Rakic P (1998) Elevated neuronal density in prefrontal area46 in brains from schizophrenic patients: application of a three-dimensional stereological counting method. J Comp Neurol 392:402–412CrossRefPubMed Selemon LD, Rajkowska G, Goldman-Rakic P (1998) Elevated neuronal density in prefrontal area46 in brains from schizophrenic patients: application of a three-dimensional stereological counting method. J Comp Neurol 392:402–412CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Weible AP, Piscopo DM, Rothbart MK, Posner MI, Niell CM (2017) Rhythmic brain stimulation reduces anxiety-related behavior in a mouse model based on meditation training. PNAS 114:2532–2537CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral Weible AP, Piscopo DM, Rothbart MK, Posner MI, Niell CM (2017) Rhythmic brain stimulation reduces anxiety-related behavior in a mouse model based on meditation training. PNAS 114:2532–2537CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
go back to reference Witelson SF, Kigar DL, Harvey T (1999) The exceptional brain of Albert Einstein. The Lancet 353:2149–2153CrossRef Witelson SF, Kigar DL, Harvey T (1999) The exceptional brain of Albert Einstein. The Lancet 353:2149–2153CrossRef
Metadata
Title
A critical view of the quest for brain structural markers of Albert Einstein’s special talents (a pot of gold under the rainbow)
Author
Jorge A. Colombo
Publication date
01-06-2018
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Brain Structure and Function / Issue 5/2018
Print ISSN: 1863-2653
Electronic ISSN: 1863-2661
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-018-1625-1

Other articles of this Issue 5/2018

Brain Structure and Function 5/2018 Go to the issue