ABSTRACT
In a cartoon in The Far Side by Gary Larson, a bewildered student raises his hand to ask, “Mr. Osborne, may I be excused? My brain is full.” Now, analyzing a joke runs the risk of ruining it. Yet, in this case, it seems instructive that there is something funny about the idea of a human brain being full. It seems to be common knowledge that every experience leaves an indelible mark on our memories. Unlike a computer, the normal human brain never reaches a point at which new experiences can no longer be committed to memory; the brain cannot be full. At the same time, one can be overwhelmed by new information-to the point that it seems to be too much to comprehend, too confusing or complex to file away in memory. It is that feeling, one might presume, that made Larson’s character want to leave the classroom.
