3 ms·

The enteric nervous system is interesting, but I'm not sure I'd call it intelligent. For one thing, you can chop big bits out of it with no adverse effects.

close04 8y ago
You can mostly do the same for parts of the central nervous system also. [0][1] While you are probably right I'm not sure if the argument actually justifies the conclusion. It could be argued that the more advanced the system, the more it can recover from losing parts by implementing redundancies and adaptation mechanisms. [0] https://www.newstatesman.com/sci-tech/2014/09/how-it-possible-live-fairly-normally-half-your-brain-missing https://www.newstatesman.com/sci-tech/2014/09/how-it-possibl... [1] https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/9akj4z/what-its-like-to-live-with-half-a-brain https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/9akj4z/what-its-l...
srean 8y ago
Well you can blow a freaking crowbar through your brain violently enough that it lands almost a hundred feet behind you and yet the lasting effect might not be much worse than a noticeable change in personality EDIT "I first noticed the wound upon the head before I alighted from my carriage, the pulsations of the brain being very distinct. The top of the head appeared somewhat like an inverted funnel, as if some wedge-shaped body had passed from below upward. Mr. Gage, during the time I was examining this wound, was relating the manner in which he was injured to the bystanders. I did not believe Mr. Gage's statement at that time, but thought he was deceived. Mr. Gage persisted in saying that the bar went through his head. Mr. G. got up and vomited; the effort of vomiting pressed out about half a teacupful of the brain [through the exit hole at the top of the skull], which fell upon the floor" [0] [0] Harlow, John Martyn (December 13, 1848). Passage of an Iron Rod Through the Head. Boston Medical & Surgical Journal. 39 (20): 389–93 sourced from wikipedia.
- Symmetry 8y ago
  He might have gotten away without any change in personality if he'd avoided the subsequent infection...
- ta345693469 8y ago
  Watching someone vomit and a half cup of brain being pressured out of their head to drop on the floor. Very glad I didn't go into medicine.
xkcd-sucks 8y ago
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemispherectomy#Results https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemispherectomy#Results

close04 8y ago

You can mostly do the same for parts of the central nervous system also. [0][1] While you are probably right I'm not sure if the argument actually justifies the conclusion. It could be argued that the more advanced the system, the more it can recover from losing parts by implementing redundancies and adaptation mechanisms. [0] https://www.newstatesman.com/sci-tech/2014/09/how-it-possible-live-fairly-normally-half-your-brain-missing https://www.newstatesman.com/sci-tech/2014/09/how-it-possibl... [1] https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/9akj4z/what-its-like-to-live-with-half-a-brain https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/9akj4z/what-its-l...

srean 8y ago

Well you can blow a freaking crowbar through your brain violently enough that it lands almost a hundred feet behind you and yet the lasting effect might not be much worse than a noticeable change in personality EDIT "I first noticed the wound upon the head before I alighted from my carriage, the pulsations of the brain being very distinct. The top of the head appeared somewhat like an inverted funnel, as if some wedge-shaped body had passed from below upward. Mr. Gage, during the time I was examining this wound, was relating the manner in which he was injured to the bystanders. I did not believe Mr. Gage's statement at that time, but thought he was deceived. Mr. Gage persisted in saying that the bar went through his head. Mr. G. got up and vomited; the effort of vomiting pressed out about half a teacupful of the brain [through the exit hole at the top of the skull], which fell upon the floor" [0] [0] Harlow, John Martyn (December 13, 1848). Passage of an Iron Rod Through the Head. Boston Medical & Surgical Journal. 39 (20): 389–93 sourced from wikipedia.

Symmetry 8y ago
He might have gotten away without any change in personality if he'd avoided the subsequent infection...
ta345693469 8y ago
Watching someone vomit and a half cup of brain being pressured out of their head to drop on the floor. Very glad I didn't go into medicine.

xkcd-sucks 8y ago

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemispherectomy#Results https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemispherectomy#Results