20 Surprising Facts About the Human Brain You Didn’t Know
The human brain is a remarkable organ that continues to fascinate scientists and researchers.
Here are 20 surprising facts about the brain that you may not have known before:
1. The Brain Doesn’t Feel Pain
Despite being the control center of the body, the brain itself does not have any pain receptors.
This means that during brain surgery, patients can remain awake and alert, even when parts of their brain are being operated on.
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The pain is felt from the meninges (coverings around the brain), periosteum (coverings on the bones), and the scalp, which all have pain receptors.
2. Multitasking is Impossible
Contrary to popular belief, the brain cannot truly multitask. When we think we’re multitasking, we’re actually context-switching, quickly switching back and forth between different tasks.
This can lead to a 50% increase in error rate and take twice as long to complete the tasks.
3. The Brain Shrinks as We Age
The human brain continues to develop until around the age of 25, but after that, it begins to shrink. This process usually starts sometime after middle age.
However, size doesn’t matter when it comes to intelligence. There is no evidence that a larger brain is smarter than a smaller one.
4. Dreams are a Combination of Factors
Dreams are believed to be a combination of imagination, psychological factors, and neurological factors.
The limbic system in the mid-brain, which deals with emotions in both waking and dreaming, is especially active during dreams.
Dreams prove that the brain is working even when we are sleeping, with the average person having about 4-7 dreams per night.
5. Short-Term Memory Lasts About 20-30 Seconds
The brain’s capacity for holding small amounts of information in the active mind lasts for about 20-30 seconds. This is known as short-term memory.
The brain keeps this information available for easy access, but only for about a minute and a half.
Most people can hold memory for numbers around 7 seconds and memory for letters around 9 seconds.
6. The Brain is 75% Water
About 75% of the brain is made up of water.
This means that dehydration, even in small amounts, can have a negative effect on brain functions.
Dehydration and a loss of sodium and electrolytes can cause acute changes in memory and attention.
7. The Brain Weighs About 3 Pounds
An adult brain weighs approximately 3 pounds, with the cerebrum making up 85% of the brain’s weight.
The brain makes up about 2% of a human’s body weight, and its texture is similar to a firm jelly.
The heaviest normal human brain weighed 4.43 pounds and belonged to the Russian writer Ivan Turgenev, while the smallest brain, just 2.41 pounds, belonged to a woman.
8. The Brain Triples in Size During the First Year of Life
The human brain will triple its size in the first year of life. By the age of two, a baby’s brain will be 80% fully grown.
It continues to grow until around the age of 18. The human brain is the largest brain of all vertebrates relative to body size.
9. Neurons Are Not the Only Players
While the brain contains around 86 billion neurons, these cells make up only about 10% of the brain’s total volume.
The remaining 90% consists of glial cells, which provide support, nourishment, and protection for neurons, playing a crucial role in brain health.
10. The Brain Consumes 20% of the Body’s Energy
Despite its relatively small size, the brain consumes about 20% of the body’s energy.
This high energy demand is due to the constant activity of neurons firing and the maintenance of ion gradients across cell membranes.
11. The Brain Generates Its Own Electricity
The brain generates its own electricity through the movement of ions across cell membranes.
This electrical activity is what allows neurons to communicate with each other and is the basis for all brain function.
12. The Brain Has a Remarkable Ability to Adapt
The brain has a remarkable ability to adapt and change throughout a person’s lifetime.
This process, known as neuroplasticity, allows the brain to reorganize and form new connections in response to changes in behavior, environment, or neural processes.
13. The Brain Has a Unique Immune System
The brain has its own unique immune system, separate from the rest of the body.
This system is made up of specialized cells called microglia, which act as the brain’s first line of defense against infection and injury.
14. The Brain Generates New Cells
Contrary to popular belief, the brain is capable of generating new cells throughout a person’s lifetime.
This process, known as neurogenesis, occurs primarily in the hippocampus, which is involved in learning and memory formation.
15. The Brain Has a Remarkable Ability to Heal
The brain has a remarkable ability to heal and recover from injury or disease. This is due in part to its plasticity, which allows it to adapt and form new connections.
However, the extent of recovery depends on the severity and location of the injury or disease.
16. Emotions Play a Key Role in Memory
Emotional experiences are often remembered more vividly than neutral ones.
This phenomenon occurs because the amygdala, which processes emotions, enhances memory consolidation, making emotionally charged memories more accessible.
17. The Average Person Has Thousands of Thoughts Daily
Research suggests that the average person has about 60,000 to 80,000 thoughts per day.
This constant stream of thoughts can make it challenging to focus, highlighting the brain’s complex and often chaotic nature.
18. The Brain’s Structure Changes with Learning
Learning new skills or information can physically change the brain’s structure.
Engaging in challenging cognitive tasks can increase gray matter density, indicating growth in areas responsible for memory and learning.
19. Brain Freeze Is a Real Phenomenon
A brain freeze, or sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia, occurs when something cold touches the roof of the mouth, causing blood vessels to constrict and then rapidly dilate.
This sudden change triggers pain receptors, leading to the characteristic headache.
20. The Brain Can Store Vast Amounts of Information
The human brain’s storage capacity is estimated to be around 2.5 million gigabytes, equivalent to about 300 years of TV shows.
This immense capacity allows for the retention of countless memories and experiences throughout a lifetime.
In conclusion, the human brain is a complex and fascinating organ that continues to surprise and intrigue researchers.
As research continues, our understanding of this complex organ will undoubtedly deepen.
