Brainiacs

[Winter]

Ok here is my question ( don’t I come up with the weirdest ones??!! 😉 )

Why are some people smarter than others? And i mean this biologically speaking…I’m not talking about some people having better study habits than others. Why is it, in class, it takes only one explanation for one person to understand a concept, yet it will take another person 3 or 4 explanations before they finally get it, and they might not even get it down right.

What is it in the brain that allows some people to think better and faster than others? Is a certain part of their brain larger? (I remember reading somewhere that a scientist named Gall noticed that smarter people had larger foreheads because their brain in that area was larger…but that was a long time ago, is that even true?) Or do they have more brain cells???

Anyway, what do you all think?

[mith]

You you know MIT(multiple intelligence theory)?

[b_d_41501]

Could you repeat the question please? 😀

[MrMistery]

There are many theories. About the theory Dave mentioned: http://www.thomasarmstrong.com/multiple … gences.htm
Only a few weeks ago i saw a documentary on Discovery about what makes some people smarter than others. The conclusion: we don’t know. It is true that the frontal lobe of the brain contains the thinking center and the personality center, so the quantity, density and conectivity of neurons here will influence your intelligence(or at least we think so). By analysis of Einstein’s brain, we saw he had the frontal and parietal lobes bigger, and he was missing a part of the Sylvius crack. But can we really be sure of anything by studying a guy that used to write with cofee and drink ink?
It also depends by the speed your brain creaters new neurons during your lifetime, by your diet as a child, by environment. A poll done in Europe shouwed that you had a much better chance of becoming an intelectual if both your parents were intelectuals…
Well, that’s enough for now…
Regards,
Andrew

[Winter]

@ b_d_41501:

I don’t know…I’m not sure I can remember it…

🙂

[victor]

quote KaylethGrey:

What is it in the brain that allows some people to think better and faster than others? Is a certain part of their brain larger? (I remember reading somewhere that a scientist named Gall noticed that smarter people had larger foreheads because their brain in that area was larger…but that was a long time ago, is that even true?) Or do they have more brain cells???

Anyway, what do you all think?

About your opinion that larger brain means larger intelligent…I don’t think so, because if we compare between human brain and sperm whale brain, sperm whale brain is 7 times larger than us but human are much more intelligent that whales..
I think the factor is the ‘nervous bridge connector’ (not pons varolli). I’ve heard that one scientist said if we keep focussing on certain topic, then this ‘bridge’ will be amplified inside our brain. it’s the same with imagination process…first is quite difficult but later it’s quite easy.
For those ‘prodigies’ I think it’s already genetically inheritted. so, I can conclude that their brain are a little more developed than ordinary human.

[Poison]

Maybe also it depends on your interests. Personally speaking, if I understand something that I like (maybe some info about bio) when reading ,lets say, 2 times; then I have to read, lets say, 3-4 times to understand a subject that I don’t like very much. (Maybe maths. 😆 )

[victor]

you need 3-4 times to understand math but I need more than 10 times to understand physics.. 😆 and yes, interest on something also take part..

[MrMistery]

@victor
We are not talking about brain size corelated with intelligence in evolution, only in humans. Of course it is not relevant that whales have larger brains than humans because our brain does not function like whale brain.

[victor]

Well, it’s a rough comparison… 😀

[mith]

Phrenology?

[MrMistery]

Not really. From what i know(and i am not sure, i may be wrong) phrenology only consisted of reading the bumps on your head. What i am speaking about is actually documented science, not some strange belief. We are not sure yet whether brain size is correlated with intelligence or not, however some of the world’s top scientists are being paid big bucks to discover if this is true, and if it is not, what does actually make us smarter?

[Winter]

@andrew:
You’re right about phrenology. It has to do with trying to measure a person’s intelligence and their personality traits by means of examining the shape of their skull. It was started by Franz Gall.

While it really has no scientific credibility anymore, it did pave the way for modern theories of cerebral localization.

[MrMistery]

True. But i can name at least 50 people smart enough to pay me if i would tell them i can tell them how intelligent they are by reading the bumps on their head 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 Which brings me to today question of the day: are Neathedrals extinct? 😀 😀 😀 😀

[th1_rhs13]

Seems like a good way to start the old college fund there.

Yes, Homo habilis did away with any and all.

[Winter]

@ andrew:
if some of my neighbors are anything to judge by, i would say no. 😆

[VeenaandNivyah]

Hi,
Well, i’m not sure how true or logical this is going to sound.
My father tells me tha people who are brainy have their heads bulging out from the back 😳 😳 😳
However, my class topper has these features which makes me think that probably what Dad said was true.
In boilogical terms, does this mean they have extra barins or is being brainy just genetic???
Thanks 😀 😀 😀

[Winter]

I’ve heard that too.
I have a cousin who is only 3 yet he is unusually smart. His head is large in the back as well.
But biologically speaking, I don’t think this has anything to do with being smart…
There are plenty of smart people out there who have normal-shaped heads.

[MrMistery]

Coincidences. The occipital lobe has very little to do with intelligence. That is the kind of thing a phrenologist would tell you probably 😀

[Author]

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