Brain complexity: multiple neuron types (Introduction)

by dhw, Wednesday, November 08, 2017, 13:03 (2572 days ago) @ David Turell

dhw: Thank you for this intriguing article. Once again it raises the question of dualism versus materialism. In both cases, we would think differently if our cells were different, but the dualist would presumably argue that the “soul” directs the brain, moulding the billions of neurons to its own predilections, so our cells are different BECAUSE we think differently: thoughts first, cell changes second (the opposite of your contention when it comes to brain expansion). The materialist would argue that it is the cells that decide how we think: cells first, thoughts second.

DAVID: Yes, interesting article, but you comment with the same mistake in theory: the thought process as described in this article alters existing neurons, not making more neurons to make the brain and skull expand. Learning to read shrinks brain!

Once again you are acknowledging that thought changes the brain. If it can shrink the brain by altering existing neurons, why do you think it can’t expand the brain by adding neurons?