A follow up point:
Lisbeth has just solved Fermat's Theorem but forgets the proof after she has been shot in the head.
"'Isn't that part of the brain associated with numbers and mathematical ability?' Jonasson said.
"Ellis shrugged. 'Mumbo jumbo. I have no idea what these particular gray cells are for.'" (p. 13)
Not quite "mumbo jumbo" if an empirical connection has been established between one part of the brain and one set of mental abilities. But it is only an empirical connection and might not hold in all cases. I have also read that brains can be versatile enough to move their functions around, e.g., in response to physical damage. And there is no necessary connection between gray cells and understanding a theorem. Might there be organisms that have developed central nervous systems and even complex signals resembling language but that have not made that qualitative leap from unconsciousness to consciousness, kind of elaborate mobile vegetables?
4 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
Again, if my memory is correct, I think the alien "Sigman" of THE BYWORLDER had a very different kind of brain from ours. I think his entire body was somehow the "brain." I might be wrong, tho!
Sean
Maybe.
The human brain has areas of specialization, but there are also plentiful recorded instances of "compensation", of other areas of the brain taking over for a disabled one and gradually restoring some or all function.
Dear Mr. Stirling,
True! There are cases of persons suffering damage or injury to the brain, by accident or cerebral palsy, being trained or educated into different portions of their brains taking over functions once done by the damaged portions.
Sean
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