Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Phrenology
I find the concept of phrenology fascinating. When examining the boys of the lower class it was either a coincidence or biological that all three kids had the lump by their ears. Although it is not accurate i still find it interesting that this was the start of the study of the parts of the brain. Phrenology explains that each section across the brain deals with 37 different traits. It's kind of astonishing that in fact, there are, for one not 37 parts and that two each brain part participates in several of these traits each amongst the brain itself instead of there being 37 different parts. Also, the concept drawn when talking about the "smarter" classmates and their bulging eyes was kind of humorous because it drew the conclusion that the frontal lobe was pushing them forward when in fact it has nothing to do with the frontal lobe than it does genetics and biology. Biopsychology was the hardest topic for me last year but i still understand that the brain and body are so different yet so similar in how they work together. From the firing of neurons to the autonomic spinal cord control reflexes that mind and body are a fascinating well oiled machine.
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Nick,
ReplyDeleteI find the specific number '37' to be, frankly, hogwash. I can think of thousands of skills that humans learn throughout their life times. This fact utterly destroys and truth in phrenology, and leads me to believe it entirely false.
Nick,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that phrenology is fascinating, it is honestly almost comical how far we have come. You mention the bulging eyes theory in correlation with the frontal lobe and I think its neat that the while it was wrong, the true reason for the bulging eyes still comes down to psychology: genetics.
Nick,
ReplyDeleteI find it ironic that psychology discredits its theories with more psychology. Gall's 37 identified traits were discredited by technology and biology. Moreover, the brain is wonderfully complex.
Dear Applenart,
ReplyDeleteI like your in depth analysis of the bulging eyes. I wonder if there existed an expectancy bias. Or maybe there may be linked genes of intelligence and big eyes at that point of time in time. Just in case I have been measuring my eyes.
Lord Applenart, King of the Orchard and Lord of the Cabbage Patch Kids by right of conquest,
ReplyDeleteYour phrenologist ideas are intriguing. One must wonder how they decided that the brain has exactly 37 parts. Must have been a truly environmental process. And that was brave of you for admitting that this was a difficult area for you. So brave. But I promise that we'll get down to business to overcome this challenge!