14 Curious Facts About the Human Brain
The brain is the most essential organ in our body; it controls everything we do. the brain controls everything from simple motor skills and comprehension to personality and emotions
We are capable of so much more than we think we are.
1. The Brain Does Not Feel Pain
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Contrary to popular belief, the brain does not feel pain. It has no pain receptors. You might be wondering what about brain freezes and headaches?
Brain “freezes” are caused by the constriction of your vessels and arteries due to extreme cold. Headaches can be caused by a change in serotonin or estrogen levels, so they’re often more of a chemical reaction than the brain hurting.
2. Brains Are Unique To Each Person
Like our fingerprints, our brains are uniquely ours. This is because our brains are shaped by all the situations we experience daily and our genetics. No one grows up in the same situation or perceives things similarly.
As you age, your brain continues to change based on the things you go through.
3. As We Age, Our Brains Get Smaller
Our brains are fully developed by age 25 but continue to change well beyond that. Our brains start shrinking during mid-life, which is our 30s or 40s. This affects our bodies and physical health in various ways, like causing dementia or memory loss.
Brain shrinking due to age is normal, but you can fill your diet with nutrient-rich foods and exercise to help slow down the shrink.
4. The Fattest Organ in Your Body is Your Brain
Yep, the brain is the fattest organ in your body. It’s made from 60% fat. Your brain must have fatty acids to function correctly, so you need to supply your brain with healthy fats.
Healthy fats include Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, which help stabilize the cell walls of the brain, reduce inflammation, and support the immune system.
5. Humans Think a Lot
On average, the human brain produces about 12,000 to 60,000 thoughts a day. It’s just never silent in our heads.
However, about 95% of those thoughts are said to be repetitive. This is why meditation can be a difficult practice to master. Our brains require constant stimulation to be interested, and talking does the trick.
6. Being in Love Affects Your Brain Differently
Love, and the lack thereof, significantly impacts our behavior and personalities. Through study and MRI scans, researchers have found that people in love have high brain activity in the areas associated with reward, motivation, social functioning, and emotion.
The euphoria of a person in love is likened to them taking drugs or alcohol.
7. 20% of Oxygen in Your Body is for the Brain
20% doesn’t sound like a lot, but it’s three times the oxygen your muscles use daily. The brain needs a high amount of oxygen to function and heal itself.
If your brain goes as long as five minutes without oxygen, its cells will start to die. The longer it’s without oxygen, the more significant the damage it sustains.
8. The Brain is Always On
Even when asleep, your brain is wide awake and caring for all your body’s necessities. On average, a person would have about four to seven dreams a night, even if they wake up with no recollection of them.
As you dream, your brain helps your body get rid of toxins, regulates your body temperature, lowers your heart rate and breathing, and produces hormones to help you sleep better.
9. You Can Function With Half a Brain
Numerous studies have been carried out on those who are born with parts of their brain missing or have undergone hemispherectomies. Hemispherectomy is a rare surgery in which half your brain is removed.
The results show that people have survived with perfect cognitive abilities and few impairments. This varies by person and case, but it can be done. Humans can function with just half a brain.
10. Brain Activity Can Power a Lightbulb
As mentioned before, our brain is constantly working and doing something. It’s never at rest unless you’re dead. Hence, the millions of neurons connecting with each other can produce about 12 to 25 watts of electricity.
This doesn’t sound like much juice, but it’s enough to power a small light bulb.
11. Your Brain’s Weight Is Mostly in One Area
The brain weighs about three pounds, with the heaviest recorded being 4.43 pounds. This weight mostly comes from the cerebrum, which is the biggest part of the brain.
The cerebrum is responsible for most survival-based actions and decisions, such as problem-solving, judgment, movement coordination, and more. We can surmise that protection and survival are the most important things for every human.
12. Forgetting Helps Your Brain Function
This may sound like a weak excuse, but forgetting is a normal brain function that helps you retain more memories and information. A study shows that the brain forgets irrelevant memories or information to improve our well-being and make better decisions.
It would be a nightmare to remember everything that has ever happened to us. Our mental health would take a hit.
13. Music is Good For the Brain
Like being in love, music stimulates the part of our brain that makes us feel good. Listening to music sends feel-good chemicals like dopamine and oxytocin down our body, improving our mood.
Music can also create a positive connection between the song and a memory or information you’re trying to retain. So, if you’re studying for a final, get your study playlist lined up with all your favorite songs.
14. The Brain Thinks Faster Than Most Speed Limits
The average human brain’s thinking speed could beat the fastest Formula 1 race car at about 268 mph. Our knee-jerk responses are a result of our super-fast thinking speed.
The brain has over 100 billion neurons connecting and delivering information to each other at rapid speed, which helps. After all, neurons make up about 10% of our brain.
