Alterations in cortical thickness and neuronal density in the frontal cortex of Albert Einstein

Neurosci Lett. 1996 Jun 7;210(3):161-4. doi: 10.1016/0304-3940(96)12693-8.

Abstract

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.

Publication types

  • Biography
  • Comparative Study
  • Historical Article

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / pathology
  • Cell Count
  • Cell Size
  • Cerebral Cortex / anatomy & histology*
  • Cerebral Cortex / cytology
  • Famous Persons*
  • History, 20th Century
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Intelligence / physiology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neurons / physiology*
  • Neurons / ultrastructure
  • Physics / history*
  • Prefrontal Cortex / anatomy & histology
  • Prefrontal Cortex / cytology
  • Tissue Fixation

Personal name as subject

  • A Einstein