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posted by cmn32480 on Monday November 14 2016, @03:57AM   Printer-friendly
from the smarter-than-average dept.

A gene that regulates bone growth and muscle metabolism in mammals may take on an additional role as a promoter of brain maturation, cognition and learning in human and nonhuman primates, according to a new study led by neurobiologists at Harvard Medical School.

Describing their findings in the Nov. 10 issue of Nature, researchers say their work provides a dramatic illustration of evolutionary economizing and creative gene retooling -- mechanisms that contribute to the vast variability across species that share nearly identical set of genes yet differ profoundly in their physiology.

The research reveals that osteocrin -- a gene found in the skeletal muscles of all mammals and well-known for its role in bone growth and muscle function -- is completely turned off in rodent brains yet highly active in the brains of nonhuman primates and humans.

Notably, osteocrin was found predominantly in cells of the neocortex -- the most evolved part of the primate brain, which regulates sensory perception, spatial reasoning and higher-level thinking and language in humans.

Article is paywalled; an abstract is available: Evolution of Osteocrin as an activity-regulated factor in the primate brain. Nature, 2016; 539 (7628): 242 DOI: 10.1038/nature20111

Some scientists and other knowledge workers use Ritalin to enhance their cognitive function. Meanwhile, DARPA and others are experimenting with stimulating brains with electrical impulses. Are we just scratching the surface of cognitive enhancement?


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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday November 14 2016, @07:24AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday November 14 2016, @07:24AM (#426453)

    Some scientists and other knowledge workers use Ritalin to enhance their cognitive function.

    Off-label drug use? You mean, crime? Not too smart.

    Meanwhile, DARPA and others are experimenting with stimulating brains with electrical impulses.

    But just look at what they have to work with! Grunts! Did anyone actually see the movie "Idiocracy"? Do you remember the initial premise?

    Are we just scratching the surface of cognitive enhancement?

    Possibly. But way too late to help anyone here. Can you imagine an Ethanol_fueled with the mind of Einstein? khallow with even more smarts than he has now could never rebel against his dark (crude) masters! And Francis, with the ability to actually know stuff, and know when he does not know and recognize the obligation to shut up! No, not going to happen.
    .
    Knowledge is hard. It takes experience, and an open mind. It takes guidance, along with the ability to accept guidance in such a way as to fulfill its intent. Merely increasing some "cognitive function" stands the extreme risk of only creating another monster, like Ted Cruz.