Alterations in cortical thickness and neuronal density in the frontal cortex of Albert Einstein.
Neuronal density, neuron size, and the number of neurons under 1 mm2 of cerebral cortical surface area were measured in the right pre-frontal cortex of Albert Einstein and five elderly control subjects. Measurement of neuronal density used the optical dissector technique on celloidin-embedded cresyl violet-stained sections. The neurons counted provided a systematic random sample for the measurement of cell body cross-sectional area. Einstein's cortex did not differ from the control subjects in the number of neurons under 1 mm2 of cerebral cortex or in mean neuronal size. Because Einstein's cortex was thinner than the controls he had a greater neuronal density.
Anderson
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Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham 35294-0007, USA. brittuab@aol.com
Harvey
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T
D000368:Aged; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000473:pathology; D002452:Cell Count; D048429:Cell Size; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000166:cytology; D005197:Famous Persons; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007360:Intelligence / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010825:Physics / Q000266:history*; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000166:cytology; D016707:Tissue Fixation