We all know that the German scientist Albert Einstein was a genius, with a mind that surpassed a thousand scientists combined. He made groundbreaking discoveries that no one had ever thought of before and explained them in a way that made even the most complex concepts understandable.
As a theoretical physicist, Einstein introduced the Theory of Relativity, revolutionizing our understanding of time and space. He also formulated the fundamental laws of the photoelectric effect, a discovery that left the world in awe and earned him the prestigious Nobel Prize in Physics.
People believe that Einstein had a superior and uniquely structured brain, different from that of ordinary humans. This belief stems from his extraordinary cognitive and intellectual abilities, leading many to speculate that his brain's anatomical structure was unlike that of a typical human brain.
Einstein was aware that his brain was indeed different, which is why he did not want his body to be dissected after his death. Instead, he requested that his body including his skull and brain be cremated.
However, what actually happened was far from his wishes. On April 13, 1955, Einstein passed away at Princeton Hospital in New Jersey, USA. When his body was transferred to the morgue, a forensic pathologist secretly stole Einstein’s brain and fled with it. The doctor was determined to study the brain of this genius and uncover what made it so unique.
The American doctor Thomas Harvey was the one who stole Einstein’s brain. Driven by his deep curiosity, he was determined to study the physicist’s brain without concern for the consequences.
When the hospital administration discovered what he had done, they fired him immediately. Left with no other option, Harvey turned to Einstein’s son, Hans Albert, hoping to persuade him to allow the study of his father’s brain and reveal its secrets to the world.
From that day on, Einstein’s brain embarked on a long and eventful journey.
Dr. Thomas Harvey, a specialist in pathology and autopsy, believed he was capable of studying the brain of the legendary physicist. However, after losing his job at the hospital, he took Einstein’s brain and traveled to Pennsylvania, USA. There, he conducted extensive research, capturing numerous X-ray and CT scans of the brain before slicing it into 240 sections for further analysis.
After placing each of these brain slices in containers filled with preservative chemicals, Dr. Harvey hid them in the basement of his home.
However, when his wife discovered the jars, she was horrified and threatened to throw them out, demanding that he get rid of them immediately.
The conflicts between Dr. Harvey and his wife continued, eventually leading to their divorce. Afterward, Dr. Harvey moved to Kansas, bringing Einstein's brain with him. In Kansas, he worked as a medical supervisor, spending his free time studying the famous brain.
However, over the years, Dr. Harvey changed jobs multiple times and moved from one city to another. Even after several years, he was unable to conduct any significant or systematic research on Einstein's brain. His medical credentials were revoked, and his situation became so dire that he was forced to work in a plastic factory.
During this period, Dr. Harvey took a pivotal step that changed the course of his research. He sent several pieces of Einstein’s brain to some of the world’s top neuroscientists for further study. This move led to numerous studies being published regarding the brain of this genius.
Researchers discovered clear differences in Einstein's brain compared to a typical human brain. The most notable difference was found in the structure of the corpus callosum, the bridge between the two hemispheres of the brain. Normally, the human brain is divided into two hemispheres: the left hemisphere controls the right side of the body and is responsible for speech, comprehension, calculation, mathematics, and writing, while the right hemisphere controls the left side and governs creative skills, as well as the ability to detect artistic and musical patterns.
In Einstein’s brain, however, the corpus callosum was found to be significantly thicker, which may have contributed to his remarkable intellectual abilities and enhanced connections between the two hemispheres.
So what exactly is the function of the corpus callosum?
Imagine yourself typing on a keyboard, with both of your hands engaged in the task. As each hand works to gather letters, your left hand might make a typing mistake. In this case, your right hand immediately deletes the error. This means that your right hemisphere of the brain makes the mistake and sends a neural signal to the left hemisphere, which corrects and deletes the error.
This is where the role of the corpus callosum comes in. It acts as the connection responsible for transmitting these neural signals between the right and left hemispheres of the brain.
In the case of Einstein, the size of his corpus callosum was larger than average, creating a stronger and more robust connection between his two brain hemispheres. This unique feature may have contributed to the exceptional integration and coordination of cognitive functions in his brain.
This strong connection allowed Einstein to visualize complex and highly challenging scenarios and problems. In addition to the size of his corpus callosum, the structure of Einstein's brain was also unusually different from the norm. Scientists believe this unique structure enabled him to enjoy smooth and efficient neural transmission.
This enhanced neural efficiency allowed Einstein to grasp mathematical equations with minimal effort. Einstein was able to solve complex mathematical problems without the need for paper and pen. Some studies have suggested that the rapid neural transmission in his brain may have been due to its lightweight structure, which facilitated quicker processing and problem-solving abilities.
When measured, Einstein's brain weighed 1230 grams, while the average human brain weighs around 1400 grams. Scientists also believe that the cortex and surface of Einstein’s brain were exceptionally thin, which likely facilitated faster and more efficient neural transmission. However, the real question remains: Was Einstein's brain different from birth, or did these changes occur over time?
Upon examining Einstein's life history, historians discovered that he did not begin speaking regularly until he was over five years old. Normally, children begin to speak around their second or third year. Even after he started talking, Einstein was not particularly talkative and preferred to stay absorbed in his own thoughts, often keeping to himself and away from others.
Einstein struggled with memory problems, even having difficulty memorizing things like multiplication tables. However, he was exceptional in mathematical equations, as he approached numbers and calculations in a logical way, rather than relying on rote memorization.
During his school years, he failed in all subjects except for mathematics, where he was top of his class. When Einstein turned twelve, one of his teachers left a book on geometry at his home. To everyone's surprise, Einstein managed to read the entire book in a single day, demonstrating his remarkable ability to grasp complex concepts quickly.
This allowed Einstein to familiarize himself with all the geometric principles he needed to start developing his own theories. By the time he turned fourteen, he had become well-versed in calculus, both integral and differential.
His vast knowledge of mathematics and other sciences was so extensive that it often left his teachers puzzled when he asked them questions. They found it difficult not only to understand his inquiries but also to attempt to provide answers.
Since his childhood, Einstein had been striving to find a way to express all the laws of the universe in a single equation. This became his mission in life, and he dedicated himself fully to achieving it.
At the age of twenty-six, Einstein published four groundbreaking scientific papers that explained the physical laws of the universe in a detailed manner, astonishing the world.
This remarkable achievement earned him a doctorate and led to him receiving the prestigious Nobel Prize, as a reward for his contributions to science and for presenting theories that benefited humanity as a whole.
Many scientists and doctors claim that Einstein's brain became different after birth. The true reason for this, they suggest, was his constant search for answers to his questions. Whenever he was unable to find answers, he would rely on his brain to seek solutions. Through the repeated process of intense intellectual effort, his brain evolved in a unique and superior way.
Today, Einstein's brain is preserved at the Mütter Museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, part of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia. The brain slices have been carefully preserved and encased in microscopic slides, ensuring they are meticulously stored and protected within the museum for scientific study and public display.