Reply

Resposta

Dear Sir,

May we respectfully disagree with the herein proposed whimsical interpretation by Mallytsz et al.¹ of the fresco Creation of the Sun, Moon and Plants. The authors actually elaborate further on our hypothesis that the creators’ legs represent the optic nerves by inferring that His feet soles would actually reify the optic papillæ and retinal tissues. Regardless of this view appropriateness, which could only reach some consilience from the anatomical perspective, the vindication proffered by the authors does not seem to be appropriate. They claim Michelangelo “already new that the function of heels/feet on the perception of the environment is very similar to the perceptual function of the retina”, notwithstanding that the Romberg sign was only reported in 1851². Therefore, the notion that proprioception contributes to ambience perception could not prevail at the time. Besides, If the heels would represent the optic papillæ and the soles part of the retina, the resemblance between the sun and the fovea (number 3 in their picture)¹ would be rather out of proportion and not conceivably imaginable. We nevertheless acknowledge the authors for their interest in our short note³.

Sincerely,

Péricles Maranhão-Filho
Maurice Borges Vincent

References

• ¹
  Malysz T., Geraldo PJ., Guilherme RG. Deivis C. Michelangelo, ocular bulb, retina and the Creator. Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2015;73(9):814. doi: 10.1590/0004-282X20150116
• ²
  Maranhão-Filho P, Maranhão ET. “O Toque Final” no sinal de Romberg. Rev Bras Neurol. 2013;49(4):137-40.
• ³
  Maranhão-Filho P, Vincent MB. Michelangelo, mammillary bodies and the Creator. Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2001;73(2):175. doi: 10.1590/0004-282X20140203

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  Sept 2015

History

• Received
  04 May 2015
• Accepted
  27 May 2015