Rachel wanted him to continue, but Martin cut him off. “And what are the results?”
“They’re not always predictable, but the neuronal pathways in those areas associated with intelligence show marked blood flow and heightened electrical activity, including abnormally developed areas.”
“Meaning what exactly?”
“Meaning enhanced performance in language and analytical skills.”
Sheila’s face flashed across Rachel’s mind—that look of burning import. Suddenly the line between hope and the emotional muck of grief, anger, and guilt had shifted.
“That’s incredible,” Martin said.
“But, once again, this is not orthodox methodology,” Malenko cautioned. “It’s an experimental alternative.”
“And it’s been done on people? Children?” Rachel asked.
“Yes.”
Rachel’s mind was spinning in disbelief. “Is it safe?”
“Like any operation, it has its risks, but it’s categorically safe.”
Malenko’s manner was purposely guarded. Rachel was about to ask him to elaborate when Martin cut her off again. “What exactly is the science—some kind of genetic therapy?”
“Before I continue, I must tell you that what we are discussing is strictly confidential. What we say in this room will not go beyond these walls. Do I make myself clear?” He looked from Martin to Rachel.
“Yeah, sure,” Martin said.
Rachel nodded, feeling a bit dazed at the new possibilities. It suddenly occurred to her that their previous discussion had been a test—and that they had passed.
“Good,” Malenko said. “The procedure involves the introduction of certain agents that stimulate neuronic connections and open new pathways.”
“You mean like stem cells?” Martin asked.
“Something like that. The target areas of the brain are infused with a cocktail of various substances including growth factors. Intelligence is a multifaceted phenomenon consisting of different potentials—mathematics, linguistic, logic, spatial, and so on—and each specialty has a field locus in the brain. Dylan’s musical talent has an associative field of activity in his cortex. However, there are underdeveloped areas where the field potential is low and where lateral support cannot be assumed by other specialized areas.”
He opened a desk drawer and removed a diagram of a human brain.
“I’m not saying it will work, but it might be possible to stimulate cell development in those language-deficient areas so that they’ll connect up to those specialty areas to make for more integrated brain dynamics.” He used a pen to demonstrate on the scans. “Essentially, it might be possible to compensate for the developmental deficiencies
“That’s incredible,” Martin said.
“You said
“Actually, it’s done by stereotaxic surgery—drilling tiny holes then implanting stimulants by use of needles.”
Rachel let out an involuntary groan, and Malenko picked up on it. “Sorry to say that this can’t be done intravenally. But stereotaxic procedures are performed all the time, and it is very precise, of course, and monitored in three-dimension by CAT scans.”
“And where do the stem cells come from?” Rachel asked.
“There are donor banks.”
“Who would be doing the procedure?” Rachel asked.
“We have a surgical team.”
“And your role is what?”
He smiled thinly. “I’ll be in charge.”
“So you’ve done these procedures before?” Martin asked.
“Yes.”
The guardedness in his manner was almost palpable. Rachel could sense that they were treading on territory that had vaguely been charted—some forbidden zone behind the chrome and green Italian marble veneer. “What about the risks?”
“Risks are inherent in any operation, but with this procedure they are very small. At worst, there would be only a minimal regeneration of neuronal networks, with modest improvement in performance. But that possibility is far exceeded by the benefits.”
“Such as?” Martin asked, his eyes wide with supplication. He was suddenly enthralled by the possibilities.
“Your son’s IQ will be higher.”
“It will?” Martin’s voice skipped an octave. He could not disguise his excitement. “How much higher?”
Malenko smiled. “How much would you like?”
“You mean we have a choice?”
Malenko chuckled. “Enhancement can’t be fine-tuned to an exact number, of course.” He then unlocked a drawer from a file cabinet behind him and removed a folder from which he removed some charts. The first was a lopsided bell curve showing the IQ distribution of high school seniors and the colleges they attended. On the fat right end of the curve where the scores went from eighty-five to one hundred and five, the schools listed were community colleges and Southern state schools. But at the long thin tapered end were the A-list institutions— Stanford, Cal Tech, MIT, WPI, and the top Ivy Leagues.
“Dylan’s IQ is currently about eighty-two. Let’s say, for instance, that it was enhanced by fifteen points, he would just get by in the typical high school. Another fifteen points would mean he’d perform well in high school and just passably at a mid-level college. Another fifteen points would mean he’d do well at the better colleges. Another fifteen points—an IQ about one hundred forty—would mean he’d do a sterling job at the better colleges. Another fifteen points and he would have an incandescent mind capable of doing superior work at the very best institutions.”
“Wow,” whispered Martin.
Malenko seemed bemused at their sudden display of interest. Or maybe it was the kind of sneaky pleasure one gets from sharing secrets.
The second chart showed a correlation of IQ scores with various occupations—physicians, mathematicians, scientists, accountants, lawyers, business executives, teachers, bus drivers, and so on.
“As you said, there was a time when people of high intelligence were scattered across a range of employment. But over the last two decades, that population has squeezed into a handful of high-powered professions. No longer do you find the brilliant shoemaker or ditchdigger. Instead, they’re running laboratories, law firms, the world’s most important corporations, and”—he gave a little smile—“egghead—recruitment companies. So the benefits can promise years of success for Dylan.
“But they go beyond professional. The statistical correlation of high intelligence with financial and intellectual achievements is an obvious gain. Not so obvious are the
He raised another chart—an actuarial graph of life expectancy measured against IQ. “One of the ancillary benefits of high intelligence is lifestyle, including diet, personal health care, and basic survival. In other words, as you can see, smarter people are happier, healthier, and live longer lives.” He ran his finger up the curve showing the higher survival rates for those at the upper end of the IQ scale.
While Rachel listened half in awe, it became clear that this was not just a glib explanation of some experimental neurophysiological procedure, but a sales pitch. That Malenko had had these charts prepared, and that he had been through this spiel with other parents who had sat in these same chairs, twisting with anxiety and hope that they could make life better for their children.
“I should add that individuals at the lower end of the spectrum are, statistically speaking, people with more
