We often come across the expression: "there is no gyrus in the head." There is also an opinion that women, and especially blondes, have few convolutions. What is gyrus? How many of them in a person's head should be normal? Does quantity affect human intelligence? And who has more: men or women?
What is gyrus
The brain is the most complex organ in our body. It is he who directs all the processes in our body, thanks to him we are aware of ourselves as a person. The brain is one of the least studied organs of the human body. This is due to its complex structure and individual characteristics of each individual person.
The surface of the brain is called the cerebral cortex , it is covered with furrows and convolutions. It consists of more than 100 billion nerve cells - neurons. Brains and grooves in humans form during the period of fetal embryonic development, their number does not change with age. They are needed so that the brain of the embryo can fit in a small skull box. A baby's large skull can cause problems during childbirth.
At birth, the weight of a person’s brain is 300 grams, and that of an adult is about 1500 g. The adult’s brain area is approximately 2200 cm 2 , and if it weren’t for its special folded structure, it simply would not fit in a narrow skull box.
With an external examination, it is impossible to see the entire area of ​​the cerebral cortex, because two-thirds are located in the depths of the furrows, and only a third are on the outside of the hemispheres.
How many convolutions in a person
No animal has as many convolutions as a human. Their quantity is influenced by two variables: the area of ​​the cerebral cortex and its thickness.
It is impossible to calculate exactly how many of them. This is due to the individual differences of all people. Some convolutions may be too small or almost invisible, in addition, they differ in different representatives of the male and female. Sometimes they are able to slightly change their size throughout life, so how many convolutions in a person is impossible to say.
Does their number affect intelligence?
As a result of the research (when some scientists bequeathed to their colleagues for the sake of science their brains for comparison with the brain of an ordinary person), so no special physiological differences were found. Human brains are formed during the period of intrauterine development and the level of intelligence is not able to affect the increase in their number during the life of a person.
Does not affect the intelligence and weight of the brain. Weight primarily depends on the height and build of a person. Thus, according to how many convolutions a person has in the brain, it is impossible to draw a conclusion about his intelligence.
Who has more convolutions: men or women?
It has long been known that a man’s brain is larger than a woman’s weight. In this regard, there are many jokes and prejudices. However, scientists have found that, despite the lower weight, the woman’s brain has a large number of convolutions, in fact, compensating for the lower weight. The brain volume of a woman is less than that of a man, but in terms of area, thanks to a larger number of convolutions, it is the same.
It should be noted that the stronger sex has twenty percent less gray matter than the weak. In men, neurons are located farther apart. For this reason, the difference in skull volumes is compensated. However, despite the greater number of convolutions in the head of women, in mental development, both sexes do not differ from each other.
Thus, the intellect does not depend on how many convolutions a person has. Despite the greater number in the head of women, ladies do not mentally surpass men. The exact amount is simply impossible to find out. Yes, this information does not make sense, because each of us is individual, and, therefore, there is no consensus on this issue. However, it is known that we do not use our brain to its full capacity. Therefore, how many convolutions in a person’s head will not play a role.