Chinese scientists used craniometry to claim Chinese brains outclassed European ones

Evidence

The fact that synapses can see their efficacy reinforced or weakened as a function of experience thus allows us to assert that, even if all human brains resemble each other with respect to their anatomy, no two brains are identical with respect to their history. The phenomena of learning and memory show this directly. Repetition and habit play a considerable role, and this reveals that the response of a nervous circuit is never fixed. Plasticity thus adds the functions of artist and instructor in freedom and autonomy to its role as sculptor. — Catherine Malabou, What Should We Do with Our Brain?, 91 (#complicates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Craniometric measurements are used to prove Tibetan-Han common descent. — David Theo Goldberg, John Solomos, A Companion to Racial and Ethnic Studies, 3350; Every brain differs by its history even when anatomy matches — Catherine Malabou, What Should We Do with Our Brain?, 91; Skull-measuring racial science was fraudulent yet self-confirming — Tamara Lanier, From These Roots: My Fight with Harvard…, 1038 (+2 more)

Broader Connections

• Every brain differs by its history even when anatomy matches #complicates (0.75) — Catherine Malabou, What Should We Do with Our Brain?, 91