by Dictionary Scoop
Your brain controls everything from your thoughts to your emotions and even processes information at lightning speed. But how much do you really know about it?
Some long-believed myths about the brain have been debunked, while other surprising facts reveal just how incredible this organ truly is. Get ready to be amazed by these fascinating brain facts!
1–Myth: We use only use 10 percent of our brain
You’ve probably heard this one before, but it’s completely false! While it’s true that not all parts of the brain fire at the same time, imaging studies show that most regions are active throughout the day, even when we sleep.
Your brain is constantly working, controlling bodily functions and emotions, and processing information.
2–The brain itself can’t feel pain
Here’s a weird fact: While your brain processes pain signals from the rest of your body, it has no pain receptors of its own. This is why surgeons can perform brain surgery on conscious patients without causing them pain.
However, the membranes and tissues surrounding the brain do have pain receptors, which is why headaches and brain injuries can be so painful.
3–Headaches are chemical reactions
How come we have headaches if the brain has no pain receptors? Because headaches are triggered by chemical activity in the brain, changes in nerves and blood vessels, and even fluctuating serotonin levels.
In some cases, hormones like estrogen can also play a role, which explains why migraines are more common in women.
4–Dreams: Your brain’s midnight movie theater
Dreams are proof that your brain never rests! (Warning: this fact can make you feel exhausted.) While you sleep, your limbic system, that is, the part of the brain that deals with emotions, becomes especially active, which is why dreams often feel so intense.
On average, humans experience four to seven dreams per night, even if we don’t always remember them. And what about that scary nightmare about falling? Well, you can thank your amygdala, the brain’s fear center, for that one.
5–Short-term memory lasts less than 30 seconds
Have you ever walked into a room and instantly forgotten what you were after? That’s because short-term memory only lasts about 20-30 seconds! That’s not enough!
Your brain holds a limited amount of information in its active state before deciding whether to store it or discard it. Ironically, we can’t really choose what makes the cut, but we do hope these facts stay with you!
6–Brain freeze is your body’s warning signal
That sharp, icy pain when you eat something too cold? It’s your brain’s way of telling you to slow down! Officially called sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia, a brain freeze happens when cold food or drinks rapidly chill the blood vessels in your throat, causing them to constrict and then rapidly expand. This sends pain signals to your brain, warning you of the sudden temperature shift. It’s annoying, but it’s actually your body trying to protect itself!
7–Your brain thinks a lot!
You didn’t need us to tell you, but let’s look at the details: The average person has between 12,000 and 60,000 thoughts per day. Even more interesting, 95 percent of those thoughts are the same ones you had yesterday. Is that not surprising enough? Hear this out: 80 percent of them tend to be negative. That’s because our brains are wired for survival, constantly analyzing risks and potential dangers.
8–Your brain uses 20 percent of your body’s oxygen and blood
Even though it only makes up about 2 percent of your body weight, your brain employs a major quantity of energy! It consumes 20 percent of your oxygen and blood supply, making it one of the most demanding organs in your body.
If your brain goes without oxygen for just five minutes, brain cells start dying, leading to irreversible damage. This is why deep breathing and cardiovascular exercise are great for brain health!
9–Seeing stars? That’s your brain processing vision
Do you know that feeling when you hit the back of your head and see stars? That’s because your occipital lobe, which controls vision, is located at the back of your brain. If you get hit there, your brain momentarily misfires, causing flashes of light.
Interestingly, your brain processes vision on the opposite side; while your right brain controls your left eye, your left brain controls your right eye. It’s one of the many ways the brain operates in a complex way.
10–Your brain can power a light bulb!
Believe it or not, your brain generates between 12 and 25 watts of electricity when you’re awake. That’s enough to power a small light bulb! Your brain’s electrical activity is what allows neurons to send signals at speeds of up to 260 miles per hour.
11–Your brain is mostly fat
Your brain may be the fattiest organ in your body, consisting of at least 60 percent fat. This is why consuming healthy fats, like omega-3s and omega-6s present in fish, for example, is essential for brain health.
Healthy fats stabilize brain cell walls, reduce inflammation, and support cognitive function. So go ahead and enjoy that avocado toast, it’s food for your brain.
12–Your brain shrinks as you age
It’s not just your memory that fades over time; the brain itself physically shrinks as one gets older. It continues developing until your late 40s, but after that, it slowly decreases in size.
Now, size doesn’t equal intelligence, so a smaller brain doesn’t necessarily mean a less capable one. Staying mentally active, exercising, and eating brain-boosting foods can help keep it in top shape.
13–Cholesterol plays a big role in memory
We often think of cholesterol as bad, but your brain actually depends on it. In fact, 25 percent of your body’s cholesterol is stored in your brain, where it helps with learning and memory. However, unlike other organs, the brain can’t absorb cholesterol from the blood, it has to produce its own. So, while too much cholesterol in the body can be harmful, the right amount is vital for brain function. At least you can use that as an excuse to get that burger!
Page 7 