[Toronto Star] Bigger Means Better....

Janie Wilkins (wilkins@princeton.lib.nj.us)
Fri, 18 Jun 1999 14:43:04 -0400


New research done by a Canadian neuroscientist at McMaster Univ. in
Hamilton Ontario shows that Einstein's brain differed significantly from
the average brain. This research was possible because somebody with
forsight in the Princeton community (either at the University or Medical
Center) decided that it would be a good idea to keep Einstein's brain
preserved and on hand for future examination. The results are going to
be published in Lancet tomorrow, but for now here is the story from the
Toronto Star:

Bigger means better: Why the brain of Albert Einstein was so superior
By Nicolaas van Rijn
Toronto Star Staff Reporter

"Something deeply hidden had to be behind things.''
- Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein transformed
our understanding of almost
everything in nature.

But only now, more than four
decades after his death, are we
beginning to understand him,
thanks to the Hamilton
scientist who is studying the secret
of what may have made his
mind tick.

His brain was different, says Dr. Sandra Witelson, the

McMaster University neuroscientist who will report her

findings tomorrow in the prestigious British medical
journal,
The Lancet.

Simply put, the math part of his brain was, well,
bigger than in
the rest of us.

``This indicates that there may be an anatomical basis
for
differences in intelligence,'' said Witelson, a
professor of
psychiatry and behavioural neurosciences at McMaster's

faculty of health sciences.

``But,'' she stressed, ``it shouldn't be seen as
anatomy is
destiny. We also know that environment has a very
important
role to play in learning and brain development.

``This is telling us that environment isn't the only
factor.''
<snip>

Read the rest at the Toronto Star website if you are interested.
Anyone who wants to read the actual Lancet article when it comes out,
contact me personally and I will send it to you via e-mail (I have
online access to the Lancet).

Diva