Asked by Lefonso Castillo on Sep 29, 2024

Dr.Sandra Witelson found that Einstein's brain was similar in terms of size and weight to most other brains,but that it had certain exceptionalities,including a wider parietal region and a distinct sylvian fissure.Which of the following is a reasonable statement about Einstein's brain given what we know about the role of environment for brain plasticity

A)  Einstein was born with brain anomalies that led to his mathematical genius, and those anomalies were clearly visible in the autopsy. His experience would not change the actual structure of the brain. 
B)  It must be due to the effects of practice that Einstein was so mathematically brilliant, given that he had brain damage in an area that is particularly important for mathematical reasoning. 
C)  Einstein may have been born with a predisposition toward mathematical genius, or his brain may have been changed as a result of so much practice, but his genius is likely to have been the result of some combination of genetics and experience. 
D)  There is no relationship between the structure of the brain and intelligence, because learning changes the function of the brain rather than the structure.

Brain Plasticity

The ability of the brain to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life.

Parietal Region

A portion of the brain located in the upper back area of the skull, important for processing sensory information from various parts of the body.

Sylvian Fissure

A deep groove in the brain's surface separating the frontal and parietal lobes from the temporal lobe, also known as the lateral sulcus.

  • Understand the theoretical aspects of brain hemisphere specialization and its impact on cognitive skills.
  • Understand how adaptations, which were once advantageous, may become disadvantageous in a new environmental context.
  • Outline the core elements of change in evolution as proposed by Darwin.