4 ms·

Study finds reduced brain volume in expert chess players

25 points by adam_klein 12y ago

tshadwell 12y ago
"bees have tiny brains and are very smart". Smart in what sense, exactly?
- robflynn 12y ago
  Compared to other insects, I assume, but I found that statement ambiguous as well. I mean, compared to other creatures with similar brain sizes.
- CDRdude 12y ago
  As a swarm, they forage for nectar with a pretty neat algorithm[1]. As individuals, they are capable of learning [2]. Apparently, honeybees can even learn to identify human faces. Oh, and they can also beat me at chess. [1]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bees_algorithm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bees_algorithm [2]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bee_learning_and_communication http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bee_learning_and_communication
tuxracer 12y ago
Headline: "Beware, Playing Lots of Chess Will Shrink Your Brain!" Last three sentences: "...shrinkage are not necessarily a bad thing. They can be a sign of neural efficiency and a reflection of behavioural expertise. Remember that the next time a journalist tries to scare you with a brain shrinkage story."
w1ntermute 12y ago
Smells like bullshit. The only publication linked to in this article is one that has nothing to do with chess players[0]. 0: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4118031/ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4118031/
- comex 12y ago
  Probably a mistake, as the article discusses that paper later on. The study in question is probably http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0028393214002395 http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0028393214...
lkrubner 12y ago
This might be consistent with the finding that homo sapiens 30,000 years ago (such as those in found in Europe, often called Cro-Magnon) had larger brains that moderns homo sapiens. One argument that I have heard about this is that humans might, nowadays, be more clever about using their brains, using better algorithms, or simply are more specialized, doing brilliant in some areas, while losing some skills that no longer seem relevant. There is also the possibility that homo sapiens are, in some sense, "domesticate" and have lost brain size for the same reason that domesticated cows have lost brain size.
contingencies 12y ago
Tighten the tinfoil!

25 points by adam_klein 12y ago

tshadwell 12y ago

"bees have tiny brains and are very smart". Smart in what sense, exactly?

robflynn 12y ago
Compared to other insects, I assume, but I found that statement ambiguous as well. I mean, compared to other creatures with similar brain sizes.
CDRdude 12y ago
As a swarm, they forage for nectar with a pretty neat algorithm[1]. As individuals, they are capable of learning [2]. Apparently, honeybees can even learn to identify human faces. Oh, and they can also beat me at chess. [1]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bees_algorithm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bees_algorithm [2]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bee_learning_and_communication http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bee_learning_and_communication

tuxracer 12y ago

Headline: "Beware, Playing Lots of Chess Will Shrink Your Brain!" Last three sentences: "...shrinkage are not necessarily a bad thing. They can be a sign of neural efficiency and a reflection of behavioural expertise. Remember that the next time a journalist tries to scare you with a brain shrinkage story."

w1ntermute 12y ago

Smells like bullshit. The only publication linked to in this article is one that has nothing to do with chess players[0]. 0: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4118031/ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4118031/

comex 12y ago
Probably a mistake, as the article discusses that paper later on. The study in question is probably http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0028393214002395 http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0028393214...

lkrubner 12y ago

This might be consistent with the finding that homo sapiens 30,000 years ago (such as those in found in Europe, often called Cro-Magnon) had larger brains that moderns homo sapiens. One argument that I have heard about this is that humans might, nowadays, be more clever about using their brains, using better algorithms, or simply are more specialized, doing brilliant in some areas, while losing some skills that no longer seem relevant. There is also the possibility that homo sapiens are, in some sense, "domesticate" and have lost brain size for the same reason that domesticated cows have lost brain size.

contingencies 12y ago

Tighten the tinfoil!