The New Discovery of the Brain

Functional MRI and Positron Emission Tomography have contributed largely to the modern medical literature in neurosciences. Near two new articles are published a day on this topic. In an important number of them the authors claim to have discovered that a given "mental status" or "function" is related to certain brain activity. They are not just refering the localization or distribuiton of the network involved. They are surprised and impressed that the "mental status" had a brain correlate. That is ludicrous! What else could be the alternative? Everything that happens in the subjective world of the human being is related to a given status of the brain, namely "brain activation." This researcher's surprise reveal lack of background knowledge or a deep religious believe confounding the scientific pre-test point of view. So, please, do not tell us any more that the pulsion for gambling or the thrilling for extreme sports are related to specific brain activations. That is granted, obvious. It is like discovering the wheel. Just tell us how the network is activated and how it differs in normal and abnormal subjects. That is enough!