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Your Brain Has a Neuron Just for Tom Cruise

...and another for every celeb you recognize, study finds

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 9, 2009 11:47 AM CDT

(Newser) – You have a neuron in your brain devoted entirely to recognizing Tom Cruise. Another specializes in Barack Obama, yet another LeBron James, and, yes, Jon and Kate are taking up two. By studying a decade worth of brain activity, researchers have discovered a series of cells that act like celebrity groupies, the Wall Street Journal reports. Each pulls together all the sensory data on a personality to create a mental image.

The findings suggest that it takes only the simplest circuit of neurons to hold even complex ideas. The celebrity neurons aren’t memorizing specific images of celebrities; they use their distilled experience with a celebrity, allowing them to recognize him or her in any context. “The neuron is responding to a concept, not a picture,” one researcher explained.

You have a neuron devoted to both Jon and Kate. Sorry.
You have a neuron devoted to both Jon and Kate. Sorry.   (AP Photo/TLC, Karen Alquist, File)
There is a neuron in your brain for each member of the Simpsons.
There is a neuron in your brain for each member of the Simpsons.   (AP Photo/Fox)
A doctor looks over a CT scan of a brain near the emergency room at the Childrens National Medical Center in Washington in this file photo.
A doctor looks over a CT scan of a brain near the emergency room at the Childrens National Medical Center in Washington in this file photo.   (AP Photo/Adele Starr, FILE)
Actor Tom Cruise holds a football on the sidelines before the Washington Redskins and the Detroit Lions NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2009.
Actor Tom Cruise holds a football on the sidelines before the Washington Redskins and the Detroit Lions NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2009.   (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 3 comments
grassisntgreener
Oct 10, 2009 6:24 AM CDT
my neurons are firing now. lol.this has to be the most ridiculous thing ever..Next: Neurons fire when you think! new at eleven!
dax
Oct 9, 2009 6:00 AM CDT
And what was the previous concept, that we were carrying all their pictures around in our pockets?
Doctor-Zaius
Oct 9, 2009 4:55 AM CDT
I'd like to rededicate all the neurons devoted to Right Wing Bloviators...

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