Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-05
CHEMICALS AFFECT
HUMAN BEHAVIOR
Or. HrdIicka Explains Theory
in Address to Experts in
Mental Disease.

An explanation OF much abnormal
behavior of human beings which cam
no; be traced TO specific mental diseases
is likely 10 be found in the chemistry OF
the brain and its reactions to different
chemical agents. according 10 Dr. AieS
Hrdlicka. curator of physical anthro-
pclosy of the National Museum.
This field Of research. DR.. Hrd!icka
told the washington Society Of nervous
and mental diseases recently. has
barely been scratched by scientists. ano
contains revolutionary possibilities, not
only in the treatment and cure OF
anaormalitics but IL sociology and
cGlcation.
Mechanism Is Complicated.
The cerebrum with its convoluted
corteX. DR.. Hrd!icka said. is the latest OF
the major physical organs TO be de-
veloped. and hence IS most experimental
sno is complicated mechanism most
Likely 10 so wrong under stresses. the
exact workings Of which puzzle physi-
clans. This major and everything division
Of the brain, he pointed out first APP
pears in the fishes as a small knob of
tissue in front of the rest of the brain
and entirely distinct from it. From this
point il developed rapidly through the
reptiles and mammals up 10 man where
Il completely covers all the other brain
sections
This enormous an6 rapid growth OF
the cereb.un. Dr. Hrdlcka said re-
osive6 its great impetus with the APP
psarance Of the sense Of smell, followed
bv those Of sight. taste AND hearing. the
sea; o. al! Of which was located in
this dinlunltiVe portion OF the primitive
brain. The action was somewhat like
that Of an endless chain.
The exercise Of these functions
brought stresses 20 bear on the cere-
brum. which as result of these was
stimulated 10 growth. Thus the seats
81 the Sensory impressions became en-
largeo and resulted in making these
functions more active. The more
active they became the more stresses
they eXer:ed The functional areas
began 10 irlpinge upon each ether.
bringing about various complications of
s-ns7tions. and finally resulting in an
extremely complex but not very stable
whole. Other bodily organs. Dr..
Erdlicka said. we're laid down in es-
ssntially their present form before the
cerebrum started on its remarkable
course Of DEVELOPMENT and hence have
become essentially stable.
Field for Further Study.
The different functional areas in
the cerebrun1. DR. Hrdlicka said. must
present chemical variations as well
Is variations OF cell organization. since
they show afanitieS TO different sorts of
chemicals introduced into the body In
this field he predicted, much of the
brain study Of the future will be car
RED on.
II Is well known Dr. Hrdlicka said
that some chemicals affect only the
motor areas. others only the sight.
while still others have no affect on
movement or sight. but exercise a pro-
found influence over such higher CEN
tiers as that Of the imagination This
would not be the case. he said. il the
brain was of the same chemical COM
position throughout
He mentioned. as q specific instance.
wood alcohol some chemical constit-
uent Of which seems TO affect the cere-
brsl area devoted to sight sensations
The drinker Of wood alcohol. he SAID.
does not need 10 consume enough TO b.
intoxicated 10 feel the effect or the
sigh. centers.