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Politics : A US National Health Care System? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: TimF who wrote (741)	4/20/2005 8:26:08 PM
From: Wharf Rat	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 42652

That elegantly simplistic theory was pretty much demolished in a series of neurophysiology articles published by Hodgkin, Huxley, and Katz, back in the 20th century. It's been a while, and it's a bit complicated, but I like explaining things, so let me go to the blackboard. HHK clearly pointed out , in their article on the Reciprocating Neuron Squared Law,J. Physiol (London)117:500, 1952; or see Katz,"Nerve, Muscle, and Synapse"; an interesting little book, that, as the weight of the brain increases, the number of neurons increases with the square. This is undoubtedly why I am 4 times smarter than anybody here. Further work by Hodgkin found out that spinal reflexes operated in much the same manner, increasing in speed as the brain gains weight. This is why I had a blazing fast start, but why everybody would catch me 25 yards out of the blocks. Part of that is related to moving the extra weight, and partly due to the cranial oxygen consumption, VO2 sub B . There were a number of Huxleys; I think this one was Sir Julian. Another family member, Aldous, engaged in similar research, and discovered that increasing brain weight effectively cleansed the "Doors of Perception". Further research on his part clearly demonstrated that very few mortals are born with brains this large. Leonardo, Ben Franklin, and Einstein were the only naturally occurring folks. However, in his later years, he clearly demonstrated that hypertrophy of the brain could be attained by a rigorous regimin of exercise and diet. He summed it up thusly, "Why do you think they call them droogs (had an accent, eh?) mind expanding?" Apparently there are a small group of electors at the IQ Hall of Fame who want to bar him, siting rampant use of brain steroids.Some things never change. YWIA Rat