MaxedOutMama
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
Abnormal Brain, Normal Function
The cerebral cortex has a strong degree of plasticity. See this article on the web:
From the outraged CodeBlue post:
Lorber divides the subjects into four categories :those with minimally enlarged ventricles; those whose ventricles fill 50 to 70% of the cranium; those in which the ventricles fill between 70 to 90% of the intracranial space; and the most severe group, in which ventricle expansion fills 95% of the cranium. Many of the individuals in this last group, which forms just less than 10% of the total sample, are severely disabled, but half of them have IQ's greater than 100.and here's the most extreme documented case Lorber documented:
Later, a colleague at Sheffield University became aware of a young man with a larger than normal head. He was referred to Lorber even though it had not caused him any difficulty. Although the boy had an IQ of 126 and had a first class honours degree in mathematics, he had "virtually no brain". A noninvasive measurement of radio density known as CAT scan showed the boy's skull was lined with a thin layer of brain cells to a millimeter in thickness. The rest of his skull was filled with cerebrospinal fluid. The young man continues a normal life with the exception of his knowledge that he has no brain.See Code Blue for a discussion of Terri's (purported) brain scan - she has enlarged sulci but has plenty of cortex left. Here is the image from the University of Miami Ethics site (click here for larger image):
From the outraged CodeBlue post:
I HAVE SEEN MANY WALKING, TALKING, FAIRLY COHERENT PEOPLE WITH WORSE CEREBRAL/CORTICAL ATROPHY. THEREFORE, THIS IS IN NO WAY PRIMA FACIE EVIDENCE THAT TERRI SCHIAVO'S MENTAL ABILITIES OR/OR CAPABILITIES ARE COMPLETELY ERADICATED. I CANNOT BELIEVE SUCH TESTIMONY HAS BEEN GIVEN ON THE BASIS OF THIS SCAN.This is what Hammesfahr or whatever his name is said too - that the medical testimony was not supported by the scan he saw. He said she had plenty of cortex left, and what was really needed was an MRI to test functioning. Let's just say I have good reason to be glad the cortex is "plastic".
