New Findings in Brain New Findings in Brain Development
Sculpting the Brain
An article in scientific America unveiled some startling research being done on how the convolutions in the brain take shape. These findings could assist in diagnosing and treatment of mental disorders ranging from autism to schizophrenia.
The cerebral cortex is elatively large in terms of surface area. This region is typically associated with higher order thinking involving, “perception, thought, emotion and action.” Because of its size, the only way it fits in the skull is the intricate folding and convolutions. This is the classic way of the body manipulating volume to get the most area in the smallest amount of space. Similar things occur through invaginations and numerous folds in certain organelle, i.e. mitochondria.
The article talks about discoveries that have been made throughout history as to the nature of these convolutions. Some early scientists believed in phrenology, studying the brain/skulls size and shape determines intelligence, a thought not really proven but still interesting. While others believed that the folds and convolutions came about by forces through out development.
One such scientist, Willhelm His, postulated that the “brain develops as a sequence of events guided by physical forces” (Hillgetag 66). Willhelm His was on the right track. Recently a neurobiologist named David Van Essen or Washington University in St. Louis came up with the hypothesis that nerve fibers connect many different regions of the cortex (allowing transregional communication), and produce forces that pull at the tissue. In a developing fetus, the brain grows and the fibers tether to the dendrites becoming “taught,” or stretched like a rubber band. As the brain grows the folds continue to take shape. By the time the baby is delivered the brain has gone from a smooth gelatinous mass to a convoluted folder lump of brain.
So what does all this mean? Well it gives scientists more insight into the development of one of the least understood enigmas of the body. It also gives direction to diagnostic and treatment of mental disorders. Another section of the article discussed how patients with autism and other mental disorders had varying folds in their brains. By understanding the brain, both in its workings and development, treatment of these diseases have the potential to be influenced for the better.
--andy
An article in scientific America unveiled some startling research being done on how the convolutions in the brain take shape. These findings could assist in diagnosing and treatment of mental disorders ranging from autism to schizophrenia.
The cerebral cortex is elatively large in terms of surface area. This region is typically associated with higher order thinking involving, “perception, thought, emotion and action.” Because of its size, the only way it fits in the skull is the intricate folding and convolutions. This is the classic way of the body manipulating volume to get the most area in the smallest amount of space. Similar things occur through invaginations and numerous folds in certain organelle, i.e. mitochondria.
The article talks about discoveries that have been made throughout history as to the nature of these convolutions. Some early scientists believed in phrenology, studying the brain/skulls size and shape determines intelligence, a thought not really proven but still interesting. While others believed that the folds and convolutions came about by forces through out development.
One such scientist, Willhelm His, postulated that the “brain develops as a sequence of events guided by physical forces” (Hillgetag 66). Willhelm His was on the right track. Recently a neurobiologist named David Van Essen or Washington University in St. Louis came up with the hypothesis that nerve fibers connect many different regions of the cortex (allowing transregional communication), and produce forces that pull at the tissue. In a developing fetus, the brain grows and the fibers tether to the dendrites becoming “taught,” or stretched like a rubber band. As the brain grows the folds continue to take shape. By the time the baby is delivered the brain has gone from a smooth gelatinous mass to a convoluted folder lump of brain.
So what does all this mean? Well it gives scientists more insight into the development of one of the least understood enigmas of the body. It also gives direction to diagnostic and treatment of mental disorders. Another section of the article discussed how patients with autism and other mental disorders had varying folds in their brains. By understanding the brain, both in its workings and development, treatment of these diseases have the potential to be influenced for the better.
--andy
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