--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We know a certain amount about neurons…" description: "\"We know a certain amount about neurons. You can do fMRI and watch parts of the brain light up. But what happens in the middle is poorly understood.\" — ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46d/paul-allen-2295_brain_we-know-a-certain-amount-about-neurons-y_2072697.png" --- # We know a certain amount about neurons. You can do fMRI… ![“We know a certain amount about neurons. You can do fMRI and watch parts of the brain light up. But what happens in the middle is poorly understood.” quote by Paul Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46d/paul-allen-2295_brain_we-know-a-certain-amount-about-neurons-y_2072697.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46d/paul-allen-2295_brain_we-know-a-certain-amount-about-neurons-y_2072697.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46d/paul-allen-2295_brain_we-know-a-certain-amount-about-neurons-y_2072697.png) > “We know a certain amount about neurons. You can do fMRI and watch parts of the brain light up. But what happens in the middle is poorly understood.” [Paul Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We can map brain activity, but the integrative processes remain a mystery. **In simple terms:** Brain imaging shows parts, not whole. Key Takeaway Explore neural integration. Themes neuroscience unknown complexity Mood curious analytical Type scientific philosophical When to use this quote - AI research - medical diagnostics - education - philosophy Key Concepts systems theory consciousness Questions to Reflect On - What methods could reveal hidden processes? - How does this uncertainty affect AI modeling? A Different Perspective Current tools may miss subtle dynamics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) [Certain Neurons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain-neurons-4009289/) [Fmri Watch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fmri-watch-4009290/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Middle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle/) [Neurons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neurons/) [Neurons Fmri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neurons-fmri-4009288/) [Parts Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parts-brain-1204024/) [Understood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understood/) [Watch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/watch/) ## Related quotes > [Consciousness is somehow a by-product of the simultaneous, high frequency firing of neurons in different parts of the brain. It's the meshing of these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-crick/consciousness-is-somehow-a-by-product-of-the-simultaneous-high/) [Francis Crick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-crick/) > [“In humans as well, it is because your loved one existed that certain neurons fire together and certain proteins are folded in your brain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-frances-o-connor/in-humans-as-well-it-is-because-your-loved-one-existed-that-certain/) [Mary-Frances O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-frances-o-connor/) > [Very ancient parts of the brain are involved in moral decision making.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/very-ancient-parts-of-the-brain-are-involved-in-moral-decision-making/) [Frans de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-de-waal/) > [“Conscious parts of the brain train other parts of the neural machinery, establishing the goals and allocating the resources.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-eagleman/conscious-parts-of-the-brain-train-other-parts-of-the-neural/) [David Eagleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-eagleman/) > [Earlier research has shown that poor blood flow can damage these parts of the brain. So one theory is that exercise may prevent damage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-vaughan/earlier-research-has-shown-that-poor-blood-flow-can-damage-these/) [Bill Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-vaughan/) > [One can truly say that the irresistible progress of natural science since the time of Galileo has made its first halt before the study…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-can-truly-say-that-the-irresistible-progress-of-natural-science/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The surgeon knows all the parts of the brain but he does not know his patient's dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-selzer/the-surgeon-knows-all-the-parts-of-the-brain-but-he-does-not-know-his/) [Richard Selzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-selzer/) > [“The many aspects of self are based on structures and processes spread throughout the brain and nervous system, and embedded in the body’s interactions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-hanson/the-many-aspects-of-self-are-based-on-structures-and-processes-spread/) [Rick Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-hanson/) > [This is the hallmark of a robust biological system: political parties can perish in a tragic accident and the society will still run, sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-eagleman/this-is-the-hallmark-of-a-robust-biological-system-political-parties/) [David Eagleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-eagleman/) > [I mean, the great thing about being an actor is you can investigate parts of your brain that might have otherwise gone dormant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-peck/i-mean-the-great-thing-about-being-an-actor-is-you-can-investigate/) [Josh Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-peck/) > [The walking wounded, impaired in life and dissected in death, were our primary clues to where and how parts of the brain work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-hacking/the-walking-wounded-impaired-in-life-and-dissected-in-death-were-our/) [Ian Hacking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-hacking/) > [“One’s left-brain controls your numerical skills, reasoning, writing, speech, scientific understanding, and right hand control. It is so paradoxical how we have successfully labeled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-vickers/one-s-left-brain-controls-your-numerical-skills-reasoning-writing/) [Lee Vickers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-vickers/) > [Meditators are shown to have thickening in parts of the brain structure that deal with attention, memory and sensory functions. This was found to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-perry/meditators-are-shown-to-have-thickening-in-parts-of-the-brain/) [Philippa Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-perry/) > [The same parts of my brain get as excited as when I study bio or read a novel and write a paper on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/utada-hikaru/the-same-parts-of-my-brain-get-as-excited-as-when-i-study-bio-or-read/) [Utada Hikaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/utada-hikaru/) > [“The parts of the brain which influence social and emotional relationships do not develop automatically but in response to the way a baby is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/the-parts-of-the-brain-which-influence-social-and-emotional/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) ## More by Paul Allen > [I just try to find things that either need to be done, should be done, or where I can make a difference in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/i-just-try-to-find-things-that-either-need-to-be-done-should-be-done/) [Paul Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/) > [I'm not a video-game player at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/i-m-not-a-video-game-player-at-all/) [Paul Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/) > [AI2 was born from a desire to create a system that could truly reason about knowledge, rather than just offer up what had been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/ai2-was-born-from-a-desire-to-create-a-system-that-could-truly-reason/) [Paul Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/) > [Some people can vent their anger, take a breath, and let it go, but I wasn't one of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/some-people-can-vent-their-anger-take-a-breath-and-let-it-go-but-i/) [Paul Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/) > [Any time you get to compete for the championship in a professional spot, it's just a magic thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/any-time-you-get-to-compete-for-the-championship-in-a-professional/) [Paul Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/) > [Art fairs bring attention to up and coming artists and some amazing new works. They are a way to connect everyone with what's happening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/art-fairs-bring-attention-to-up-and-coming-artists-and-some-amazing/) [Paul Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/) > [Human beings are fragile things, and for the period of time it takes to get them to Mars and back, you have dangerous radiation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/human-beings-are-fragile-things-and-for-the-period-of-time-it-takes/) [Paul Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/) > [With documentary-film projects, you hope you highlight an area of concern people haven't thought about before. A lot of times, I'm asking myself -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/with-documentary-film-projects-you-hope-you-highlight-an-area-of/) [Paul Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/) > [In my own work, I've tried to anticipate what's coming over the horizon, to hasten its arrival, and to apply it to people's lives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/in-my-own-work-i-ve-tried-to-anticipate-what-s-coming-over-the/) [Paul Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/) > [The NBA is intense, but the NFL is a whole 'nother level of intensity and dramatic, game-changing plays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/the-nba-is-intense-but-the-nfl-is-a-whole-nother-level-of-intensity/) [Paul Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/) > [Sometimes it's very difficult to find fresh fruit on the road.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/sometimes-it-s-very-difficult-to-find-fresh-fruit-on-the-road/) [Paul Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/) > [Computers are really, basically, computing elements and a lot of memory. They are pretty easy to understand, as compared to the brain, which was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/computers-are-really-basically-computing-elements-and-a-lot-of-memory/) [Paul Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/) > [As quickly as it started, our business model evaporated. But while Traf-O-Data was technically a business failure, the understanding of microprocessors we absorbed was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/as-quickly-as-it-started-our-business-model-evaporated-but-while-traf/) [Paul Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/) > [In an ideal world, everybody would find it easy to talk to the press... but not everybody is so excited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/in-an-ideal-world-everybody-would-find-it-easy-to-talk-to-the-press/) [Paul Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/) > [Those fortunate to achieve great wealth should put it to work for the good of humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/those-fortunate-to-achieve-great-wealth-should-put-it-to-work-for-the/) [Paul Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/) [Explore all 173 Paul Allen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/) ## More Brain quotes > [The brain abhors discrepancies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilayanur-s-ramachandran/the-brain-abhors-discrepancies/) [Vilayanur S. Ramachandran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilayanur-s-ramachandran/) > [In some circles where very heavy people think they have very heavy brains, words like "charming" and "clever" and "pretty" are all put-downs; all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/in-some-circles-where-very-heavy-people-think-they-have-very-heavy/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [down with ought with because with every brain that thinks it thinks nor dares to feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/down-with-ought-with-because-with-every-brain-that-thinks-it-thinks/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To explicate the uses of the Brain seems as difficult a task as to paint the Soul, of which it is commonly said, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-willis/to-explicate-the-uses-of-the-brain-seems-as-difficult-a-task-as-to/) [Thomas Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-willis/) > [I prefer the word 'musician.' I'm a musician and a composer. I have a problem with the word 'artist.' I don't know if it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stromae/i-prefer-the-word-musician-i-m-a-musician-and-a-composer-i-have-a/) [Stromae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stromae/) > [Thinking of sex provides enough mental stimulation to reduce risk of diseases that damage the brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/thinking-of-sex-provides-enough-mental-stimulation-to-reduce-risk-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My writing routine is: get son off to school and sit down at 8 A.M. I read what I wrote the day before, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-chevalier/my-writing-routine-is-get-son-off-to-school-and-sit-down-at-8-a-m-i/) [Tracy Chevalier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-chevalier/) > [The reason I'm drawn to it is - both the off road racing and the motorcycles on the track - it takes a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dax-shepard/the-reason-i-m-drawn-to-it-is-both-the-off-road-racing-and-the/) [Dax Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dax-shepard/) > [Without illusions. I love you because you are fallible and because your poor misguided testosterone-corrupted brain has you doing cartwheels trying not to be.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-gerard/without-illusions-i-love-you-because-you-are-fallible-and-because/) [Cindy Gerard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-gerard/) > [being asked to decide between your passion for work and your passion for children was like being asked by your doctor whether you preferred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-bevington/being-asked-to-decide-between-your-passion-for-work-and-your-passion/) [Helen Bevington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-bevington/) > [I was told I had brain damage. I always knew it was an unfair label. Now I have a clearer understanding of what's wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-boyle/i-was-told-i-had-brain-damage-i-always-knew-it-was-an-unfair-label/) [Susan Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-boyle/) > [The act of learning to read added an entirely new circuit to our hominid brain's repertoire. The long developmental process of learning to read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maryanne-wolf/the-act-of-learning-to-read-added-an-entirely-new-circuit-to-our/) [Maryanne Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maryanne-wolf/) > [I can't let fear kill my creative brain. Fear is the killer. Your bad choices come from fear. And I'm constantly combating fear. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-m-chu/i-can-t-let-fear-kill-my-creative-brain-fear-is-the-killer-your-bad/) [Jon M. Chu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-m-chu/) > [I am the way I am. If you like me because I'm glamorous, so be it. If you like me, because I speak well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malaika-arora-khan/i-am-the-way-i-am-if-you-like-me-because-i-m-glamorous-so-be-it-if/) [Malaika Arora Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malaika-arora-khan/) [Browse all 8,465 Brain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We know a certain amount about neurons. You can do fMRI and watch parts of the brain light up. But what happens in the middle is poorly understood.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Paul Allen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/we-know-a-certain-amount-about-neurons-you-can-do-fmri-and-watch/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Brain" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/we-know-a-certain-amount-about-neurons-you-can-do-fmri-and-watch/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46d/paul-allen-2295_brain_we-know-a-certain-amount-about-neurons-y_2072697.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46d/paul-allen-2295_brain_we-know-a-certain-amount-about-neurons-y_2072697.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46d/paul-allen-2295_brain_we-know-a-certain-amount-about-neurons-y_2072697.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We know a certain amount about neurons. You can do fMRI and watch parts of the brain light up. But what…” — Paul Allen", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Paul Allen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We know a certain amount about...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/we-know-a-certain-amount-about-neurons-you-can-do-fmri-and-watch/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/we-know-a-certain-amount-about-neurons-you-can-do-fmri-and-watch/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```