Human brain specimens – about 100 of them – are missing from the University of Texas at Austin's Animal Resources Center.
The brains were sent to the university from the Austin State Hospital, formerly known as the Texas State Lunatic Asylum, in 1986, and it is unclear when the specimens went missing.
The university was to use the brains in its psychology lab, but did not have room to store all of the specimens. The organs were placed in the school's basement, and word may have circulated to curious students.
"It's entirely possible word got around among undergraduates and people started swiping them for living rooms or Halloween pranks," Psychology professor and co-curator of the collection Lawrence Cormack told the Austin-American Statesman.
One of the specimens may be the brain of rampage killer Charles Whitman, who murdered 16 people and wounded 32 others on and around the University of Texas at Austin campus on August 1, 1966. No identifying information is attached to the specimens.
"It would make sense it would be in this group," University of Texas neuroscientist and co-curator of the collection Tim Schallert said. "We can't find that brain."
Whitman's brain was donated to science after he was killed by police. In his suicide note, Whitman had complained of "many unusual and irrational thoughts" and "violent impulses." Doctors found a pecan-sized brain tumor upon conducting an autopsy, and concluded that "the highly malignant brain tumor conceivably could have contributed to his inability to control his emotions and actions."
About 100 brains remained at the university, but were moved to the Norman Hackerman Building to undergo MRI scanning.
"These MRI images will be both useful teaching and research tools," Cormack said. "It keeps the brains intact."
In a statement, the university said that it will investigate "the circumstances surrounding this collection since it came here nearly 30 years ago," and that it is "committed to treating the brain specimens with respect."
