International   

Brain patterns in art work

London: Anyone imagining they spotted a human brain in the flurry of cherubs and drapery swirling around the figure of God as he stretches out a hand to raise Adam to life in Michaelangelo’s fresco from the Sistine Chapel would probably conclude there was some malfunction in their own brain. However, four scientists are now convinced the swirls are not meaningless decoration, but a transverse section of the sagittal section of a human brain.

The resemblance was first suggested by another scientist, FL Meshberger. Now Alessandro Paluzzi, Antonio Belli, Peter Bain and Laura Viva, from the neurosurgery, neurosciences and radiology departments of James Cook university hospital in Middlesbrough, Charing Cross hospital in London and Southampton University, have dissected his theory and tracked down more brains in masterpieces. The study has appeared in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. — © Guardian Newspapers Limited, 2007

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

No plan to put off polls: Soomro
“I saw her duck into car as shots rang out”
Sarkozy’s Egyptian holiday with top model triggers controversy
Benazir sounded optimistic in e-mail to British MP
Terrorist challenge to world: Putin
Japan will reflect on history, says Fukuda
Sri Lankan jets pound key LTTE sites
Shuttle faces problem
Brain patterns in art work
Teen helping friend when tiger turned on him

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu