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After sitting in pieces in a jar for more than 40 years, Albert Einstein's brain could make another contribution to science. Now scientists in Canada say they have spotted something that might explain the great theorist's brilliance -- and might eventually offer clues to brain work in general. They say a key region in Einstein's brain -- a region that processes mathematical thought, three- dimensional visualization, spatial relationships and other mental processes -- was significantly larger than the same area in people with normal intelligence. Known as the inferior parietal lobe, the region is situated about the level of the ear, starting in the front of the brain and extending about two-thirds of the way back. In his life, Einstein had submitted to brain studies, and at least one biography says he hoped his brain would be studied after his death. When Einstein died in 1955, in Princeton, N.J., a pathologist who performed the autopsy removed the brain and kept it when he left Princeton. According to several journalistic accounts, the pathologist, Dr. Thomas Harvey, kept Einstein's brain in a jar and at one time it sat in a cardboard box that once held apple cider behind a beer cooler in his office in Kansas

They say a key region in Einstein's brain - a region that processes mathematical thought, three-dimensional visualization, spatial relationships and other mental processes - was significantly larger than the same area in people with normal intelligence. Known as the inferior parietal lobe, the region is situated about the level of the ear, starting in the front of the brain and extending about two-thirds of the way back. In his life, [Albert] Einstein had submitted to brain studies and at least one biography says he hoped his brain would be studied after his death. When Einstein died in 1955, in Princeton, N.J., a pathologist who performed the autopsy removed the brain and kept it when he left Princeton. [Thomas] Harvey had permission from Einstein's estate and his son, Hans Albert, to conduct studies of the brain. Toward that end, he photographed and measured the brain and then cut it into 240 pieces of varying size for further study, but he published nothing of his findings. He did give a few sections of the brain to a few researchers, two of whom reported that Einstein had an unusual preponderance of certain brain cells, oligodendroglia, which support the brain's networks of neurons

In his life, [Albert] Einstein had submitted to brain studies, and at least one biography says he hoped his brain would be studied after his death. When Einstein died in 1955, in Princeton, N.J., a pathologist who performed the autopsy removed the brain and kept it when he left Princeton. According to several journalistic accounts, the pathologist, Dr. Thomas Harvey, kept Einstein's brain in a jar, and at one time it sat in a cardboard box that once held apple cider behind a beer cooler in his office in Kansas

In his life, Einstein had submitted to brain studies, and at least one biography says he hoped his brain would be studied after his death. When Einstein died in 1955, in Princeton, N.J., a pathologist who performed the autopsy removed the brain and kept it when he left Princeton. According to several journalistic accounts, the pathologist, Dr. Thomas Harvey, kept Einstein's brain in a jar, and at one time it sat in a cardboard box that once held apple cider behind a beer cooler in his office in Kansas. Harvey had permission from Einstein's estate and Einstein's son, Hans Albert, to conduct studies of the brain. Toward that end, he photographed and measured the brain and then cut it into 240 pieces of varying size for further study, but he published none of his findings. He did give a few sections of the brain to a few researchers, two of whom reported that Einstein had an unusual preponderance of certain brain cells, oligodendroglia, which support the brain's networks of neurons. But the result was a research project combining a method similar to the long-rejected system of phrenology (in which character could allegedly by analyzed by studying the shape and protuberances of the skull) with the newer techniques of neuroscience. [Sandra F.] Witelson's team made use of McMaster's vast library of brain samples, probably the world's largest collection of normal brain samples. These samples enabled researchers to determine which features of Einstein's brain were ordinary, and which were unusual

Dr. (Thomas) Harvey had permission from Einstein's estate and his son, Hans Albert Einstein, to perform scientific studies of the brain. Toward that end, he took careful photographs and measurements of the brain and then cut it into 240 pieces of varying size for further study, but he published none of his findings. He did give a few sections of the brain to a few researchers, two of whom reported that Einstein had an unusual preponderance of certain cells, oligodendroglia, that support the brain's networks of neurons. Dr. Harvey could not be reached for comment yesterday. In 1996, a one-sentence fax from Dr. Harvey arrived at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. Did researchers want to study Einstein's brain? Dr. Sandra F. Witelson, the leader of a team of neuroscientists there, did not even know who Dr. Harvey was. Dr. Harvey apparently chose the McMaster researchers after reading Dr. Witelson's reports of research conducted at a brain bank that she started in 1982, largely through funding from the United States National Institutes of Health. The bank contains brains willed for research by more than 100 people who also underwent tests of verbal, mathematical, I.Q. and other functions. The aim was to relate structure and function in the normal brain, said Dr. Witelson, who veered into neuro-anatomy after earning her Ph.D. degree in psychology

They say a key region in Einstein's brain - a region that processes mathematical thought, three-dimensional visualization, spatial relationships and other mental processes - is significantly larger than the same area in people with normal intelligence. Known as the inferior parietal lobe, the region is situated about the level of the ear, starting in the front of the brain and extending about two-thirds of the way back. In his life, [Albert] Einstein had submitted to brain studies, and at least one biography says he hoped his brain would be studied after his death. When Einstein died in 1955, in Princeton, N.J., a pathologist who performed the autopsy removed the brain and kept it when he left Princeton. According to several journalistic accounts, the pathologist, Dr. Thomas Harvey, kept Einstein's brain in a jar and at one time it sat in a cardboard box that once held apple cider behind a beer cooler in his office in Kansas. Harvey had permission from Einstein's estate and his son, Hans Albert, to conduct studies of the brain. Toward that end, he photographed and measured the brain and then cut it into 240 pieces of varying size for further study, but he published nothing of his findings. He did give a few sections of the brain to a few researchers, two of whom reported that Einstein had an unusual preponderance of certain brain cells, oligodendroglia, which support the brain's networks of neurons

Gay men in New York City have significantly reduced their levels of risky sexual behavior, and the number of men infected with the AIDS virus has dropped sharply during the past 15 years, city health officials said in issuing findings Sunday from the largest survey ever of gay men's sexual health. The survey also indicated that young gay men are heeding messages about the need for precautions. Use of condoms for first anal intercourse rose to 78 percent in 1998 from 34 percent in 1985, said Dr. Tracy Mayne, the director of epidemiology for the New York City Health Department's AIDS prevention planning group. He said most men do not engage in unprotected anal intercourse, are reducing the risk if they do, and have fewer sex partners. Although the new survey was not representative of all gay and bisexual men in New York City and reflected only what the men said about themselves, it showed that more extensive efforts are needed, particularly among black and Hispanic gay men, to prevent them from becoming infected with HIV. The survey found that black and Hispanic gay men were less likely to engage in risk reduction. They also were twice as likely as white gay men to get their HIV test in a hospital, usually when sick with AIDS, instead of at a clinic when feeling well

Gay men in New York City have significantly reduced their levels of risky sexual behavior, and the number of men infected with the AIDS virus has dropped sharply over the last 15 years, city health officials said in issuing findings yesterday from the largest survey ever of gay men's sexual health. The survey also indicated that young gay men are heeding messages about the need for precautions, contrary to fears that unprotected sex has been increasing. Use of condoms for first anal intercourse rose to 78 percent in 1998 from 34 percent in 1985, said Dr. Tracy J. Mayne, the director of epidemiology for the New York City Health Department's AIDS prevention planning group. He said that most men do not engage in unprotected anal intercourse, are reducing the risk if they do, and have fewer sex partners. Although the new survey was not representative of all men who have sex with men in New York City and reflected only what the men said about themselves, it showed that more extensive efforts are needed, particularly among black and Hispanic gay men, to prevent men from becoming infected with H.I.V. The survey found that black and Hispanic gay men were less likely to engage in risk reduction. They were also twice as likely as white gay men to get their H.I.V. test in a hospital, usually when sick with AIDS, instead of at a clinic when feeling well

Gay men in New York City have significantly reduced their levels of risky sexual behavior, and the number of men infected with the AIDS virus has dropped sharply over the last 15 years, city health officials said in issuing findings yesterday from the largest survey ever of gay men's sexual health. The survey, conducted last year in an unusual partnership between the city and the Gay Men's Health Crisis, offers what they said is the clearest picture of how sexual practices of gay and bisexual men have changed in response to the AIDS epidemic. HIV infection rates among gay men are lower than commonly believed, the survey found. About one in seven participants said they were infected, a drop from studies in 1985 showing an infection rate of one in three in New York City

In his life, [Albert Einstein] had submitted to brain studies and at least one biography says he hoped his brain would be studied after his death. When Einstein died in 1955, in Princeton, N.J., a pathologist who performed the autopsy removed the brain and kept it when he left Princeton. According to several journalistic accounts, the pathologist, Dr. Thomas Harvey, kept Einstein's brain in a jar and at one time it sat in a cardboard box that once held apple cider behind a beer cooler in his office in Kansas. [Sandra Witelson] began examining the photographs and measurements that Harvey had made of Einstein's brain from a number of different angles. Harvey also brought to Witelson's laboratory about 50 pieces, or a fifth of Einstein's brain, so she could also study them through a microscope. Because Einstein's brain was being compared with those of people who died at age 60 on average, and Einstein was 76 when he died, the scientists also compared his brain to the eight oldest members of the study. Their age averaged 70. Beyond the anomalies in Einstein's parietal lobe, there was no significant difference