We may be predetermine , but we cerebrate the human brain is pretty exceptional . All this workweek , mentalfloss.com is celebrate this miracle organ with aheap of brain[y ] stories , leaning , and video . It all pass up toBrain Surgery Live With mental_floss , a two - 60 minutes boob tube event will sport — yes — live brain operation . Hosted by Bryant Gumbel , the extra airs Sunday , October 25 at 9 p.m. EST on the National Geographic Channel .
story has answered this with some literal promontory - scratchers .
1. MUCUS (ANCIENT EGYPTIANS)
The Egyptian word for brain some translate to “ skull offal , ” which explains how highly they thought of it . They deliberate it mere organic stuffing that carry mucus to the nozzle .
2. SPERM(ALCMAEON OF CROTON)
Like other pre - Socratic philosopher , Alcmaeon consider semen was made in the nous and traveled down the spinal cord . Like other pre - Socratic philosophers , he was wrong .
3. PHLEGM(ARISTOTLE)
To Aristotle , the brain was essentially a refrigerator that cool down the heart with phlegm . The mind is fossilized in the English language : Pituitaryderives from the Latinpituita , for phlegm .
4. MARROW(TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE)
believe the mind was an process of the all - powerful kidney , the ancient Chinese thought the forefront was fill with a nourishing gist , thanks to an vitality squall “ kidney kernel . ”
5. HEART STUFF (RABBI GERSHON BEN SHLOMO)
“ The brain and heart share functions so when one is missing , the other alone continues its activities by virtue of their partnership , ” he wrote in the 13th one C .
6. ANIMAL SPIRITS(RENE DESCARTES)
In 1664 , Descartes wrote that the pineal secretor was the seat of the soul , run with animal spirits that were like “ a very lively and pure flame . ” The idea had been democratic for centuries .
