If you want to know what can the brain do, you’ll love this article.
The human brain is a marvel of nature—complex, powerful, and endlessly intriguing. Despite being studied for centuries, it continues to surprise scientists and researchers. It’s often compared to a computer, but it far surpasses any man-made machine in its ability to process, learn, create, and adapt. This organ governs everything from our thoughts and emotions to our senses and memories.
While we’ve uncovered a great deal about how the brain works, there are still countless mysteries waiting to be solved. In this article, I’m going to share some extraordinary facts about the brain that you might not have heard before!
What Can The Brain Do:
1. The Brain Demands A Lot
The phrase “I feel heavy-headed” might be more accurate than we think. Our brains are relatively heavy for their size, weighing in at around 1.3 to 1.4 kilograms. That’s about 2% of your total body weight, but it consumes a massive amount of energy—approximately 20% of the oxygen and calories you take in!
To function properly, the brain needs a constant supply of glucose. Without it, you can experience symptoms like confusion, dizziness, or even fainting, as the brain enters a hypoglycemic state. Diabetics are especially aware of this and need to monitor their blood sugar levels to prevent complications.
2. A Master of Complex Connections
If you think your phone’s network is complicated, imagine the brain’s system of connections. The surface of your brain, or cerebral cortex, could be unfolded to cover about four A4-sized sheets of paper. Within that space, you would find around 100 billion neurons (nerve cells), each forming thousands of connections with other neurons. These connections are what allow us to think, learn, and remember.
To put it into perspective, if you could visualize all the blood vessels in your brain, their combined length would be about 160 kilometers—long enough to stretch across a small country. These vast networks make our brains incredibly powerful and capable of performing complex tasks at lightning speed.
3. The Brain Doesn’t Feel Pain
You might think that since the brain controls how we experience pain, it would be highly sensitive itself. Surprisingly, the brain has no pain receptors at all! This is why surgeons can perform brain surgery on awake patients, who don’t feel pain inside the brain itself.
However, the tissues surrounding the brain, like the scalp and skull, are loaded with pain receptors, which is why a head injury can be so painful. The brain processes pain from other parts of the body, but it remains blissfully unaware of its own discomfort.
4. Speed and Power: The Brain as a Powerhouse
When it comes to speed and energy, the brain is a true powerhouse. Nerve signals can travel through your brain at speeds of up to 400 kilometers per hour, which is faster than a sports car on a highway!
In addition to speed, the brain generates about 25 watts of energy, enough to power a small light bulb. This energy is produced through the brain’s constant electrical activity, which is vital for all cognitive and bodily functions.
5. The Brain Can “Eat” Itself
This might sound alarming, but it’s a fact. When you’re on a very restrictive diet or fasting for too long, the brain starts running low on energy. In response, it triggers a process called autophagy, where cells essentially “eat” parts of themselves to release fatty acids for fuel.
This process is necessary for survival, but if prolonged, it can negatively affect brain function. In extreme cases of starvation, the brain can suffer irreversible damage as its cells break down vital components to keep going.
6. The Brain and the Amygdala: An Emotional Powerhouse
The amygdala, a small almond-shaped cluster deep within the brain, is responsible for our emotional responses, especially fear, anger, and anxiety. When we are calm, the brain’s rational part, the prefrontal cortex, keeps things in balance, allowing us to think clearly and make sound decisions.
However, when we are stressed or enraged, the amygdala takes over, triggering the “fight or flight” response. It floods the brain with signals that produce fear, anger, and emotional pain.
This process, often called an “amygdala hijack,” makes it difficult for us to be empathetic or patient. For example, imagine you’re having a calm conversation with a friend when they suddenly say something that offends you. Before you can think it through, your amygdala kicks in, and your emotional response overwhelms your logical thinking.
You might snap back or say something hurtful before your rational brain has a chance to catch up. This intense emotional response only calms down once the amygdala’s activity decreases and the prefrontal cortex regains control, allowing us to return to a more measured and thoughtful state of mind.
7. The Brain Recognizes Three Distinct States of Being
The brain can shift between three main emotional states, each with its own set of responses and feelings.
- Bliss and relaxation: In this state, a person feels at ease, content, and deeply connected with the world around them. It’s when we feel love, joy, and a sense of well-being. Imagine sitting by the beach, watching the sunset, feeling completely at peace—this is when the brain is at its most relaxed and happy.
- Alert and activated: This state occurs when we sense danger or perceive a threat. The brain reacts by heightening our awareness, making us feel anxious, stressed, or angry. During this time, negative emotions flood the body, making the world seem frightening or hostile. For example, if you’re walking alone at night and hear footsteps behind you, your brain switches into this state, preparing you for potential danger.
- Freeze or shut down: When the brain senses that a threat is overwhelming and there’s no escape, it can shift into a state often referred to as “staged death.” Here, people may feel paralyzed by fear, emotionally numb, or deeply withdrawn. This state is often linked to extreme stress, depression, or trauma, where everything feels hopeless, and the brain essentially “shuts down” to cope.
8. The Brain Is Always Adapting
Neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to rewire itself, is one of its most remarkable features. Researchers from MIT have demonstrated that when one neural pathway strengthens, others around it may weaken. This process allows us to form new habits and learn new behaviors, while the brain gradually discourages older, less beneficial habits.
For example, imagine you’re learning to play the guitar. At first, your brain struggles to make sense of the new hand movements and chord progressions. Over time, as you practice, the brain strengthens the pathways associated with these new skills, making the motions easier and more natural.
Meanwhile, old, unused pathways related to previous habits, like biting your nails when nervous, may weaken. This adaptive quality is why it’s possible to change long-standing habits—whether it’s learning to manage anger better or becoming more disciplined at work.
9. The Brain’s Visual Control Center Isn’t Where You Think
While it might seem logical to assume that the parts of the brain responsible for vision are located near the eyes, that’s not the case. The occipital lobe, which processes visual information, is actually located at the back of your head. This area is essential for interpreting everything we see—color, light, movement, and depth.
For instance, if you accidentally hit the back of your head, you might see stars or experience temporary vision problems. That’s because the occipital lobe has been affected. Serious trauma to this part of the brain can even lead to permanent vision loss, despite the eyes themselves being unharmed.
10. The Brain Outshines Modern Technology
Despite advances in computing, the human brain remains far more powerful than the most advanced machines. It can process an estimated 10^16 bits of information per second—far beyond the capabilities of today’s supercomputers. But the brain isn’t just fast—it’s also adaptable and intuitive in ways that no artificial intelligence can yet replicate.
One fascinating study from MIT revealed that the brain regions activated by brand loyalty, such as people’s devotion to Apple products, light up in similar ways to those activated by faith and belief. This suggests that brand loyalty taps into deep psychological mechanisms, similar to those involved in religion or other emotionally charged beliefs.
This brings up an interesting point: could our deep-rooted psychological responses be manipulated by technology or advertising in the future? Imagine a world where companies understand the brain so well that they can trigger emotions or even control decisions through subtle signals. While we’re far from creating “zombies,” the brain’s power and complexity mean that it’s constantly evolving in ways we might not yet fully comprehend.
Summary
The human brain is an extraordinary organ with incredible capabilities. It controls every aspect of our emotions, thoughts, and bodily functions. Here’s a summary of what the brain can do:
- Regulate Emotions: The brain’s amygdala governs emotional responses, particularly fear, anger, and anxiety. It can take control during stressful situations, causing emotional reactions like anger or panic, while the prefrontal cortex restores rational thinking.
- Shift Between Emotional States: The brain operates in three main emotional states—bliss (relaxed and happy), alert (stressed or anxious), and shutdown (numb or overwhelmed in extreme danger or trauma).
- Adapt and Learn: Through neuroplasticity, the brain can rewire itself by strengthening new neural connections and weakening old ones. This allows for learning new habits and behaviors while discouraging outdated patterns.
- Process Sensory Information: The occipital lobe at the back of the brain processes visual information, allowing us to see and interpret the world around us. Even though it’s far from the eyes, it controls our vision.
- Outperform Modern Technology: The brain processes an enormous amount of data, far more than even the most advanced computers, and its adaptability, creativity, and emotional responses go beyond what AI can achieve.
- Handle Energy and Pain: The brain demands 20% of the body’s energy, yet it doesn’t feel pain itself. It interprets pain from other parts of the body but remains painless during surgeries or injuries.
The brain’s abilities, from processing emotions to learning new habits and outperforming machines, demonstrate its immense power and adaptability.