scholarly journals Contributions towards determining the weight of the brain in the different races of man

1868 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
pp. 236-241
Keyword(s):  
Specific Gravity ◽  
Human Brain ◽  
Relative Magnitude ◽  
Races Of Mankind ◽  
Human Skulls ◽  
Variable Condition ◽  
The Brain

It would naturally be expected that great attention had been directed to the human brain, the organ of mental manifestation. Still little has been done to ascertain its relative magnitude in the different races of mankind. Opportunities for examining exotic brains are rare, and it is only by gauging the internal capacities of human skulls, and deducing the weight of the brain, that data can be obtained. The inferiority of this method is not so clear as has been assumed, since we are able to fix upon an unchangeable substance of definite specific gravity for the purpose of this gauging, whereby we compensate for the variable condition of the brain, depending upon disease and other causes, and the immediate occasion of death.

On the Specific Gravity of Different Parts of the Human Brain

1866 ◽  
Vol 11 (56) ◽  
pp. 465-511 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Charlton Bastian
Keyword(s):  
Specific Gravity ◽  
Human Brain ◽  
Actual Number ◽  
Early Publication ◽  
Cerebral Disease ◽  
The Future ◽  
The Subject ◽  
First Time ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Different Parts

The question of the specific gravity of the brain has already engaged the attention of several British investigators, the results of whose labours have from time to time been made known, but with the exception of a few isolated observations little has been done to this subject by continental anatomists or pathologists. At a time like the present, when the attention of scientific men is directed with renewed interest to all details concerning weight, form, and configu ration of the human brain, it seems reasonable to suppose that more complete observations upon the specific gravities of its several parts would be of itself a matter of scientific interest, independently of the importance attaching to the subject on account of the probable light which such an investigation might throw upon the situations of change in brain tissue, in connection with certain obscure forms of cerebral disease. The observations of previous inquirers have been directed to the estimation of the specific weights of the cere brum and cerebellum as a whole, of the gray and white matter separately, and of the combined central ganglia of the cerebrum. These investigations have been made by some, upon the brains of sane, and by others, upon those of insane individuals; and amongst the forty persons whose brains I have myself examined, there are also representatives of these two classes, though a large majority is included under the former denomination. Whilst tho actual number of brains inspected by myself is, therefore, limited, still the examination of their several parts has been more complete, so that this communication contains a record not only of differences found to exist in the specific gravity of gray matter taken from frontal, parietal, and occipital convolutions respectively; but, also, I believe for the first time, of the specific weights of the optic thalami, pons, medulla oblongata, and different parts of the corpora striata, taken sepa rately. Some of the facts so ascertained are very interesting, and seem to justify their early publication. Owing, also, to the existence of certain discrepancies in the results arrived at by preceding inves tigators and myself, it seems desirable that these discrepancies as well as our respective methods should be considered, with a view, if possible, of ensuring greater uniformity of results for the future. Investigations of a delicate nature such as these, when conducted by different observers, are comparatively useless for the purposes of comparison, unless some uniform method be adopted. These considerations have induced me to make known the results of my own observations sooner than I should otherwise have done, and will, I hope, be deemed a sufficient justification for my bringing them forward before they are sufficiently numerous to enable me to draw any very safe deductions from them. The present paper may, therefore, be con sidered as a first contribution towards the elucidation of a subject, at which I hope to work more thoroughly in the future.

II.—English Psychological Literature

1863 ◽  
Vol 9 (47) ◽  
pp. 396-398
Author(s):  
Thomas B. Peacock
Keyword(s):  
Specific Gravity ◽  
Human Brain ◽  
Common Salt ◽  
Royal Infirmary ◽  
Distilled Water ◽  
Late Professor ◽  
Psychological Literature ◽  
The Common ◽  
The Brain

“In 1847 (says Dr. Peacock), I published a series of weights of the human brain, collected at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, together with tables prepared from these observations, together with the much larger number of weights previously recorded by the late Professor John Reid. The observations which follow have been obtained since that time, and though comparatively few in number, yet, as they are not likely to be materially increased and may furnish a useful comparison with the former, I have thought them worthy of being placed on record. The observations on the specific gravity of the brain are entirely new. They were obtained by a different mode from that followed by Dr. Sankey, in his observations of the specific gravity of the healthy brain, and by Dr. Bucknill in his investigation of the density of the brain of insane persons. The former of these observers ascertained the specific gravity of the different portions of the brain, by placing pieces in solution of common salt of different densities; the latter adopted a similar plan, except that he employed solutions of Epsom salts. My own observations were made by first weighing the brain and its several portions in air, and then in distilled water, and calculating the specific gravity by the common formula, viz., as the weight lost by the brain in water is to the weight in air, so is the specific gravity of distilled water (1000) to the weight required.”

scholarly journals XX. Contributions towards determining the weight of the brain in different races of man

1868 ◽  
Vol 158 ◽  
pp. 505-527 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Individual Case ◽  
Relative Magnitude ◽  
Relative Volume ◽  
The Body ◽  
Average Weight ◽  
Uniform Density ◽  
Races Of Mankind ◽  
Average Size ◽  
Human Brains ◽  
The Brain

The Brain being the most essential and characteristic portion of the human organization, as connected with intelligence and mental manifestations, it would naturally be expected to have absorbed great attention. Still, comparatively little has been done to ascertain its relative magnitude in the different races of mankind. Opportunities for the examination of exotic brains are very rare; and it is only by gauging the capacities of trustworthy skulls of different races, and thence deducing the volume of the encephalon that extended and reliable data are to be obtained. That an accumulation of observations of this kind is required for any results deserving confidence, ensues from the manifest diversity of volume and weight which pervades all individual organs of the body. These skulls are but seldom met with in such variety and such number as to yield satisfactory data. Hence it seems to be very desirable to place on record the averages calculated for a considerable collection of human crania, embracing most of the chief divisions of mankind. It may be supposed that this method is inferior to that of ascertaining directly the weight of the brain. This, however, is itself subject to considerable fluctuations, dependent upon sex, age, the kind of disease with which the person has been affected, and the condition of the organ at the period of death. These all influence the determination, and complicate the deduction of any average weight and volume of the brain when subjected to the manipulation of the observer. It has been asserted “that the actual weights of human brains can alone form just data for conclusions; and that it seems scarcely possible that any method of ascertaining the size of the brain from examination of the skull can be free from fallacy". Without undervaluing the views of so excellent an observer as Dr. Peacock, it may be said that, if this be allowed to be correct in reference to any individual case, since the disease which terminates the life of a person itself alters the relation of the solid to the fluid contents of the cranium, it may yet with confidence be affirmed that the examination of a large series of skulls in ascertaining their capacities and deducing from those capacities the average volume of the brain, affords, in some respects, more available data for determining this relative volume for any particular race than the weighing of the brain itself. It might be less easy in this way to fix the exact weight of any individual encephalon, which might be much changed by some lingering and wasting disease (a large portion of Dr. Peacock’s cases died of Phthisis); but, practically, this method is more sure to yield an accurate average size of the organ, because we have it in our power to use an unchangeable substance with which to gauge the capacity of the skull. And we thus arrive at conclusions the same in result as if we had the brain in all skulls at a uniform density, which, in fact, is the true basis of comparison.

Frontier concept of rabi chip for intelligent humanoid

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Preecha Yupapin ◽  
Amiri I. S. ◽  
Ali J. ◽  
Ponsuwancharoen N. ◽  
Youplao P.
Keyword(s):  
Human Brain ◽  
Brain Function ◽  
Rabi Oscillation ◽  
Liquid Core ◽  
Brain Surface ◽  
Dipole Oscillation ◽  
On Chip ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Robotic Applications ◽  
Atom System

The sequence of the human brain can be configured by the originated strongly coupling fields to a pair of the ionic substances(bio-cells) within the microtubules. From which the dipole oscillation begins and transports by the strong trapped force, which is known as a tweezer. The tweezers are the trapped polaritons, which are the electrical charges with information. They will be collected on the brain surface and transport via the liquid core guide wave, which is the mixture of blood content and water. The oscillation frequency is called the Rabi frequency, is formed by the two-level atom system. Our aim will manipulate the Rabi oscillation by an on-chip device, where the quantum outputs may help to form the realistic human brain function for humanoid robotic applications.

TIMELESS BUILDINGS AND THE HUMAN BRAIN: The Effect of Spiritual Spaces on Human Brain Waves

2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 133
Author(s):  
Sally M. Essawy ◽  
Basil Kamel ◽  
Mohamed S. Elsawy
Keyword(s):  
Human Brain ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Spiritual Experience ◽  
Brain Wave ◽  
Human Comfort ◽  
Beliefs And Practices ◽  
Brain Waves ◽  
Space Design ◽  
State Of Mind ◽  
The Brain

Some buildings hold certain qualities of space design similar to those originated from nature in harmony with its surroundings. These buildings, mostly associated with religious beliefs and practices, allow for human comfort and a unique state of mind. This paper aims to verify such effect on the human brain. It concentrates on measuring brain waves when the user is located in several spots (coordinates) in some of these buildings. Several experiments are conducted on selected case studies to identify whether certain buildings affect the brain wave frequencies of their users or not. These are measured in terms of Brain Wave Frequency Charts through EEG Device. The changes identified on the brain were then translated into a brain diagram that reflects the spiritual experience all through the trip inside the selected buildings. This could then be used in architecture to enhance such unique quality.

Art and the Brain’s Reward System

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henrik Hogh-Olesen
Keyword(s):  
Human Brain ◽  
Reward System ◽  
Human Existence ◽  
Brain Scans ◽  
System P ◽  
The Aesthetic ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Reward Circuit

Chapter 7 takes the investigation of the aesthetic impulse into the human brain to understand, first, why only we—and not our closest relatives among the primates—express ourselves aesthetically; and second, how the brain reacts when presented with aesthetic material. Brain scans are less useful when you are interested in the Why of aesthetic behavior rather than the How. Nevertheless, some brain studies have been ground-breaking, and neuroaesthetics offers a pivotal argument for the key function of the aesthetic impulse in human lives; it shows us that the brain’s reward circuit is activated when we are presented with aesthetic objects and stimuli. For why reward a perception or an activity that is evolutionarily useless and worthless in relation to human existence?

scholarly journals Is There a Brain Microbiome?

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
pp. 263310552110187
Author(s):  
Christopher D Link
Keyword(s):  
Animal Models ◽  
Human Brain ◽  
Neurodegenerative Diseases ◽  
Ground Truth ◽  
Healthy Human ◽  
Strong Motivation ◽  
The Many ◽  
The Brain

Numerous studies have identified microbial sequences or epitopes in pathological and non-pathological human brain samples. It has not been resolved if these observations are artifactual, or truly represent population of the brain by microbes. Given the tempting speculation that resident microbes could play a role in the many neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases that currently lack clear etiologies, there is a strong motivation to determine the “ground truth” of microbial existence in living brains. Here I argue that the evidence for the presence of microbes in diseased brains is quite strong, but a compelling demonstration of resident microbes in the healthy human brain remains to be done. Dedicated animal models studies may be required to determine if there is indeed a “brain microbiome.”

A bigger brain for a more complex environment

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (8) ◽  
pp. 803-816
Author(s):  
Umberto di Porzio
Keyword(s):  
Human Brain ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Molecular Genetic ◽  
Adult Size ◽  
Genetic Changes ◽  
Cultural Challenges ◽  
Birth Canal ◽  
Newborn Brain ◽  
Neuronal Interactions ◽  
The Brain

AbstractThe environment increased complexity required more neural functions to develop in the hominin brains, and the hominins adapted to the complexity by developing a bigger brain with a greater interconnection between its parts. Thus, complex environments drove the growth of the brain. In about two million years during hominin evolution, the brain increased three folds in size, one of the largest and most complex amongst mammals, relative to body size. The size increase has led to anatomical reorganization and complex neuronal interactions in a relatively small skull. At birth, the human brain is only about 20% of its adult size. That facilitates the passage through the birth canal. Therefore, the human brain, especially cortex, develops postnatally in a rich stimulating environment with continuous brain wiring and rewiring and insertion of billions of new neurons. One of the consequence is that in the newborn brain, neuroplasticity is always turned “on” and it remains active throughout life, which gave humans the ability to adapt to complex and often hostile environments, integrate external experiences, solve problems, elaborate abstract ideas and innovative technologies, store a lot of information. Besides, hominins acquired unique abilities as music, language, and intense social cooperation. Overwhelming ecological, social, and cultural challenges have made the human brain so unique. From these events, as well as the molecular genetic changes that took place in those million years, under the pressure of natural selection, derive the distinctive cognitive abilities that have led us to complex social organizations and made our species successful.

scholarly journals Tackling Dysfunction of Mitochondrial Bioenergetics in the Brain

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (15) ◽  
pp. 8325
Author(s):  
Paola Zanfardino ◽  
Stefano Doccini ◽  
Filippo M. Santorelli ◽  
Vittoria Petruzzella
Keyword(s):  
Human Brain ◽  
Basic Function ◽  
Mitochondrial Proteome ◽  
Novel Proteins ◽  
Mitochondrial Functions ◽  
Organ Specific ◽  
Oxphos System ◽  
Mitochondrial Defects ◽  
Energy Dependent ◽  
The Brain

Oxidative phosphorylation (OxPhos) is the basic function of mitochondria, although the landscape of mitochondrial functions is continuously growing to include more aspects of cellular homeostasis. Thanks to the application of -omics technologies to the study of the OxPhos system, novel features emerge from the cataloging of novel proteins as mitochondrial thus adding details to the mitochondrial proteome and defining novel metabolic cellular interrelations, especially in the human brain. We focussed on the diversity of bioenergetics demand and different aspects of mitochondrial structure, functions, and dysfunction in the brain. Definition such as ‘mitoexome’, ‘mitoproteome’ and ‘mitointeractome’ have entered the field of ‘mitochondrial medicine’. In this context, we reviewed several genetic defects that hamper the last step of aerobic metabolism, mostly involving the nervous tissue as one of the most prominent energy-dependent tissues and, as consequence, as a primary target of mitochondrial dysfunction. The dual genetic origin of the OxPhos complexes is one of the reasons for the complexity of the genotype-phenotype correlation when facing human diseases associated with mitochondrial defects. Such complexity clinically manifests with extremely heterogeneous symptoms, ranging from organ-specific to multisystemic dysfunction with different clinical courses. Finally, we briefly discuss the future directions of the multi-omics study of human brain disorders.

scholarly journals The brain timewise: how timing shapes and supports brain function

2015 ◽  
Vol 370 (1668) ◽  
pp. 20140170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Riitta Hari ◽  
Lauri Parkkonen
Keyword(s):  
Human Brain ◽  
Brain Imaging ◽  
Brain Function ◽  
Temporal Dynamics ◽  
Generative Models ◽  
Network Activity ◽  
Brain Diseases ◽  
Specific Information ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
The Brain

We discuss the importance of timing in brain function: how temporal dynamics of the world has left its traces in the brain during evolution and how we can monitor the dynamics of the human brain with non-invasive measurements. Accurate timing is important for the interplay of neurons, neuronal circuitries, brain areas and human individuals. In the human brain, multiple temporal integration windows are hierarchically organized, with temporal scales ranging from microseconds to tens and hundreds of milliseconds for perceptual, motor and cognitive functions, and up to minutes, hours and even months for hormonal and mood changes. Accurate timing is impaired in several brain diseases. From the current repertoire of non-invasive brain imaging methods, only magnetoencephalography (MEG) and scalp electroencephalography (EEG) provide millisecond time-resolution; our focus in this paper is on MEG. Since the introduction of high-density whole-scalp MEG/EEG coverage in the 1990s, the instrumentation has not changed drastically; yet, novel data analyses are advancing the field rapidly by shifting the focus from the mere pinpointing of activity hotspots to seeking stimulus- or task-specific information and to characterizing functional networks. During the next decades, we can expect increased spatial resolution and accuracy of the time-resolved brain imaging and better understanding of brain function, especially its temporal constraints, with the development of novel instrumentation and finer-grained, physiologically inspired generative models of local and network activity. Merging both spatial and temporal information with increasing accuracy and carrying out recordings in naturalistic conditions, including social interaction, will bring much new information about human brain function.

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