After his death, Albert Einstein was cremated—but not entirely. During the autopsy, the pathologist Thomas Harvey secretly removed Einstein’s brain without obtaining permission from the family. In effect, the brain was taken unlawfully. Harvey preserved it in a large glass container and kept it in his personal possession for years.
Over time, Harvey distributed small portions of the brain to nearly two dozen leading neuroscientists and researchers of the era. These samples were sent selectively to prominent experts in the field, yet the investigations failed to produce definitive or universally accepted scientific conclusions. In total, only six research papers based on these studies were ever published, and most lacked strong methodological validity.
In more recent years, however, certain anatomical observations of Einstein’s brain have been highlighted. One notable finding was its weight: approximately 1,230 grams, which is smaller than the average adult brain weight of about 1,400 grams. Despite its size, several regions showed unusual structural characteristics.
The prefrontal cortex—associated with focus, long-term planning, persistence, and decision-making—appeared to be exceptionally well developed. Additionally, some brain regions displayed an unusually high concentration of neurons and glial cells, which play a crucial supportive role in neural function.
Einstein’s parietal lobes were also found to be atypical. These areas are closely linked to abstract reasoning, mathematical thinking, language processing, and spatial awareness. Another striking feature was a thicker-than-normal corpus callosum, the structure that connects the two cerebral hemispheres, potentially allowing more efficient communication between them.
Despite these intriguing observations, studying a single brain—no matter how extraordinary its owner—offers little scientific value in understanding the nature of human genius. Meaningful conclusions require the comparative study of multiple brains with similar exceptional abilities, analyzed systematically and supported by robust data before credible scientific claims can be made.
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