Evening star., 1932-04-15
SURGEON SAYS MAN
HAS TWO "BRAINS"
IN USE AT SAME TIME
Continued From First Page)

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adrenal glands This led DR. Grille to
the tentative hypothesis that the
/ adrenalS were at the root of the trouble.
Now the human being has a double
nervous system. First and most i'm
portant is the central nervous system
which consists of the spinal cord, the
brain and all the nerve flberS running
to the outside of the body Second is
the sympathetic nervous system, which
consists of nerve ganglia outside the
spinal cord and nerve fiberS running
inside the body to visceral organs and
glands. 1t is mucn oder than the CEN
tral nervous system. 1t is also con-
nected by fiberS to the spinal cord and
hence to the brain
But the sympathetic nervous system
existed before there was any spinal
cord or brain. DR.. Crile's conclusion
is that in those days it had a brain of
its own which ruled exclusively over the
body. AS evolution progressed it proved
inadequate to meet the demands upon
it 1t was easier for evolving life to
build up a new nervous system and a
new brain than to make over the old
But the old was retained as a sort of
storehouse for the old physiological
furniture which didn't seem to fit in
VIC AACW oUl UlAOuA4dulSo.
An Emotion Brain.
The old brain was not a thinking
brain" 1t was an emotion brain, con-
trolling the responses of the very prim-
tive organism to the stimuli of its en-
vironment When dangerous stimuli
came it answered them with massive
urge of the whole body for flight or
concealment. This is the present dif-
ferentiated feeling of fear.
It still persists in causing this re-
sponse. Through the history of the
race acting instantaneously in the
face of any danger, it has been an IN
valuable factor in self preservation.
So also with the other emotions. DR..
Crile's experiments lead him to the
conclusion that the "old brain''-the
adrenal glands-constitutes the center
of emotion
The new brain acts differently. 1t
stores up experience in the form of
memories, and discriminates between
stimuli in the light of such experience.
Its responses are specific and suited
to the particular occasions rather than
massive and invariable. Back in the
far-off days when the 'old brain" was
senSory equipment by which the or
ganism maintains its contact with the
outside world, was very primitive.
Organisms didn't receive many stimuli
only such as we're absolutely essential
for their survival.
But with the development of the new
brain" came also the development of
eyes and ears, tongue and nose. Which
came first, the improved brain or the
improved Sensory receptorS, melody
knows. The more man sees and CO.
ordinates what he sees, the more occa-
sion he has to be afraid under danger
GUS conditions. A pig wouldn't be
particularly scared at the sight of
and experience in such matters, the
sight would have no meaning to its
new brain"
Controls Vital Functions.
The more emotion-arcusing stimuli
can be appreciated the more stimulation
is transmitted down through the spinal
cord to the old brain" The two
brains must work together. But in the
highly intelligent Cne has so far out
diStanced the other that the primitive
organ becomes overloaded 1t controls
such vital functions as rate of heart
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sugar supply. Unable to stand the
strain of the constant stimuli beating
upon it, it goes awry and the nervous
system is thrown into a turmoil
The chief action center of the new
brain" is the frontal lobe of the corteX,
the area just behind the forehead. Here
all the Sensory stimuli received are re-
layed down the spinal column. So,
Dr. Grille told the surgeons, the vic
tins of these conditions are persons
with well developed frontal lobes. This,
in turn, seems to be related in some
way to intelligence
Now the same condition may result
when some pathological condition at
tackS the old brain, causing it to be-
come abnormally active. The frontal
lobe tries to combat it. The old brain
responses are shunted to the thyroid
gland, The result is the same sort of
turmoil in the nervous system as the
old and the new wage their rentleSs
battle. One form, at least, is eXothal-
mic goitre.
Believes Theory Verified.
Diabetes mellitus, the prevalent form !
of this kidney allment, is closely tied up !
with the sugar content of the blood
and this in turn Is regulated by the !
a disease of the intelligent whose big !
frontal lobes persist in continuing the !,
quarrel Another condition cited by |
DR.. Grille as in the same general class |
is manifested by recurring periods of !
fast heart beat, such as
would be manifested in extreme fear
The two brains communicate with !
each other through the spinal cord |
DR.. Grille cited experiments which indi- !
cate. at least, possible surgical treat |
ment. He was able to bring about |
sensational improvement in a woman |
drying of eXothalmic goitre by admin |
iStering a spinal anesthetic, thus closing /
the pathway between the two brains |
Still greater improvement was brought |
about by repetition of the anaesthesia
and operation on the adrenal Acting j
purely on his far-reaching hypothesis, |
he seemed on the point of bringing |
back a hopeless case from the very |
edge of the grave when an infection |
set in and the patient died. But he
believes his "two- brain" theory was es-
sentially verified, he told the Army sur
geons.