If humans had three arms, would we have the brain capacity to make full use of them?

retired_cherylweston · 10-03-2007, 01:01 AM

you're clearly assuming that we'd have the same schema for motor functioning as humans currently do.
on a cognitive level, the development would be different enough to allow for perfect functioning of 3 arms.

retired_summergor · 10-03-2007, 01:12 AM

yesterday i was thinking, do animals have a sense of humour?

interesting.

alidog · 10-03-2007, 01:46 AM

Since a millipede can have several hundred arms/legs and can use them all fine but only has a tiny brain, then I'd say we'd be fine with out brain and one extra arm.

But as said in the opening post, if I woke up with it tomorrow I might struggle to do much useful with it. If I was born with it however, I think it would seem perfectly normal to me and I'd be able to use 3 arms as well as I currently use 2.

retired_Monica65 · 10-03-2007, 01:52 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by cliff7197:
Since a millipede can have several hundred arms/legs and can use them all fine but only has a tiny brain, then I'd say we'd be fine with out brain and one extra arm.

But as said in the opening post, if I woke up with it tomorrow I might struggle to do much useful with it. If I was born with it however, I think it would seem perfectly normal to me and I'd be able to use 3 arms as well as I currently use 2.

Millepede can't play ping pong or wiffleball though

retired_bec8643 · 10-03-2007, 01:55 AM

Not sure we'd be able to use the 3rd hand for anything, would throw our balancing matrix off kilter, would need a 4th so weight distribution is even at both sides.

retired_carribear68 · 10-03-2007, 02:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BBB:
will there ever be a boy born who can swim faster than a shark?

3 legged juggler... why wasn't he a jogger.. or a swimmer?

alidog · 10-03-2007, 02:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Becks:
<BLOCKQUOTE>Originally posted by cliff7197:
Since a millipede can have several hundred arms/legs and can use them all fine but only has a tiny brain, then I'd say we'd be fine with out brain and one extra arm.

But as said in the opening post, if I woke up with it tomorrow I might struggle to do much useful with it. If I was born with it however, I think it would seem perfectly normal to me and I'd be able to use 3 arms as well as I currently use 2.

Millepede can't play ping pong or wiffleball though </BLOCKQUOTE>

Mind if one could play ping pong, with 300 arms it would be pretty unbeatable.

[Well, apart from the fact that it's an inch long and can't hold one bat, never mind 300.]

circlewalker · 10-03-2007, 02:33 AM

You don't need to look at your hands to know what they're doing.

Each person has a inate sense of where every part of his body is. Close your eyes and concentrate on any part of your body and you know where it is and what it's doing. It's our sixth sense. Or actually one of the many senses that people don't think exist until they actually think about it properly.

If we were born with three arms we'd use them no problem.

If we were given an extra arm our ability to use it would be goverened by our genetic make up and, like you say, brain power. Some will be able to use it much better than others.

But the important question is:

If you were a chicken, and had access to a barbecue, would you eat your own wings?

retired_Monica65 · 10-03-2007, 02:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ackter:
You don't need to look at your hands to know what they're doing.

Each person has a inate sense of where every part of his body is. Close your eyes and concentrate on any part of your body and you know where it is and what it's doing. It's our sixth sense. Or actually one of the many senses that people don't think exist until they actually think about it properly.

If we were born with three arms we'd use them no problem.

If we were given an extra arm our ability to use it would be goverened by our genetic make up and, like you say, brain power. Some will be able to use it much better than others.

But the important question is:

If you were a chicken, and had access to a barbecue, would you eat your own wings?

Can't see why not, not like I'd be using them for flying. And they've got to be better than chicken feed.

mrfunktastick · 10-03-2007, 02:40 AM

not only

but

also

If humans had three arms, would we have the brain capacity to make full use of them?

Grab a beer, sit back and relax.

If humans had three arms, would we have the brain capacity to make full use of them?