The study of the brain has accelerated in the past fifty years. Probably well before that but the most recent technology put scientists inside our incredible computer to understand just what part of the brain holds what magic. Well when you look at the progress the results almost appear to be magic. We know which part of the brain works to register the images that are reflected into our retinas, what part sends the sound to where in the brain, and how those actual results get stored into memory.

Of course it is not magic. All those actions are a part of brain functions. Natural functions of all animals. Worms and other animals with less developed parts still have a brain of sorts. Cool, huh?

This type of knowledge and the technology available are tools useful for further understanding and sometimes for predicting future behavior. Studies in social behavior and individual behavior have long been used by psychologists and physiologists to solve problems in communication. Even when those studies bring up more questions than answers they foster new studies that in turn create new tools.

Philosophers often despair over the amount of knowledge available, stating that too many facts take away the fantasy of life. Let’s get real. The more facts we learn the more our curiosity yearns for more detail. The more learned in medicine increases the chances for curing diseases as with the promise of cell-replacement strategies to treat MS. It matters not. Human brains will be worked to the limit. And so it goes.

Naomi Sherer