Vertical line across my skull..., page 1

HI Impreza :-)

Does the line run across the top of the head from ear to ear. Or does it run from front to back (from brow to middle of neck at back)?

Have you asked your parents if you've ever had surgery or an accident?

Best to ask them and to visit a doctor, that way you might swiftly put your mind at ease.

Heads come in all shapes and variations, as you no doubt realise.

I was surprised to learn that with the passage of time, our skulls seem to change quite a bit, as evidenced not only by checking our own but by observing people of various ages.

Children's heads are usually quite nicely shaped (smooth and even). Obviously this changes with age, as is shown by a study of the heads of elderly folk -- which sometimes appear bony and distorted, similar to arthritic fingers. A lot of the variance is due to differences in fat distribution and gravity, no doubt. But I suspect the bones in the skull compress and move about with age too.

Sometimes, my head seems to 'expand' -- based on the tightness of my reading-glasses sometimes. At other times my glasses feel loose. Headaches seem to have this 'expansion' effect too, sometimes.

I never thought about my skull until a year or so ago, when I felt distinct 'corrugations' at the front of my skull, just above the brow. This was disconcerting. I thought my skull was collapsing or something. But I just had a 'feel' of this area a moment ago, and at the moment it's back to normal and smooth/corrugation free.

Toes, fingers, feet etc. swell and contract as result of various things. Guess it's logical to assume skulls might do also.

But I'd have it checked out by a doctor if I were you, just to make sure.

(Ps. You know about the 'disappearing brain' issue, don't you? If not, briefly: young man studying math at Oxford uni (I think) took part in research being conducted into 'brain size'. The researchers couldn't believe their eyes when they viewed his x-rays, because these showed the man had virtually no grey matter at all. They thought it was a mistake, re-did the x-rays. Same result. It was written up in Lancet or similar.

Six months or so later, they again x-rayed the man. This time, the x-rays showed almost normal amount of grey matter. So big question marks arose within the 'brain expert' ranks.

They x-rayed this man several times and discovered that his grey matter came and went. But it had no adverse effects upon him. He was doing well in math, was normally bright and healthy.

As consequence, researchers in the US x-rayed several hundred/dozen students' brains. They discovered a 'normal' young woman also had virtually no grey matter. And again, this had no adverse effects upon her, intellectually or physically etc.

Since then, researchers have discovered several dozen people, world wide, who suffer the same 'loss and later reconstitution of brain matter'. All are perfectly healthy and intelligent.

So, this evidenced 'lack of brain' has to be compared with scientists who claim to be able to 'locate' various physical and other functions within the physical brain. For example, they probe 'area 6' with electrodes and the patient's leg shoots up in the air. Hence, 'area 6' is claimed to be responsible for 'leg muscles' or whatever.

WHAT is 'responsible for leg muscles' when the patient *has* no (or little) discernible brain matter? Or when that patient's grey matter comes-and-goes?

For me, it's proof of the adage: ' The brain is the hardware, the Mind is the software' --- and of: ' The Brain is NOT the Mind' --- and of the speculation (which I personally believe to be true) that 'Mind' is located 'out there somewhere' (meaning in 'space' or the 'cosmos' or what we believe to be 'out there' --- when in fact 'out there' could actually be half an inch from where we're sitting right now).

Anyway, mentioned all this (a) because it's fascinating and (b) because *IF* (as has been documented) the physical 'brains' in some people are non-existent or exist on a come-and-go basis ---- well, this may well have a corresponding effect on the shape and size of the skull -- don't you think?

Anyway, once again, hope everything turns out well if and when you visit the doc :-)