We live in the 21st century, in the age of high technologies and regular scientific discoveries. Scientific progress affects all areas of human life. A person studies the whole world around him and, most importantly-himself. We are looking for the hidden capabilities of our bodies and the potential that we may have. The most significant interest for scientists is the brain-the organ that controls all processes in the body, the organ of thought. Perhaps, it is even one of the biggest mysteries of nature.
Many people think that when we are silent, our brain, or most of it, does not work and is at rest. This is not true: the brain is constantly actively working, even when someone is not talking. Moreover, its primary function is to continually generate and transmit nerve impulses (Buzsaky, 2019). Therefore, the brain is in constant active activity and supports the entire body’s movement.
The next myth about our brain is that people often incorrectly believe that after 25 years, all the changes that occur with the brain are exclusively negative. The human brain has an excellent and unique property-neuroplasticity (Boyd, 2015). Therefore, it can change at the chemical and structural levels to support effective mental activity. For example, the brain can increase the number of chemical signals between neurons (Eickhoff, Yeo, Genon, 2018). Therefore, the human brain can change positively in adulthood.
Some people wonder why everyone’s brain works differently if everyone’s brain is equally neuroplastic. For example, one child quickly learns a school subject while another lags in learning. This is happening because the functioning of our brain also depends on our behavior and habits (Boyd, 2015). Therefore, if a person eats right, maintains a healthy lifestyle, regularly performs physical exercises, and has the proper sleep regime, his brain works more efficiently.
To sum up, the brain’s abilities are much more extensive and deep than everyone used to think. And the study of the phenomena of the brain is not yet very developed and is only at the beginning. The brain is the most impressive and mysterious human organ. Thanks to him, we can see, touch and move. The brain is similar to a global electronic network that controls the entire body.
References
Boyd, Lara. (2015) After watching this, your brain will not be the same. [ Video]. TED.
Buzsaky, G. (2019). The Brain from Inside Out. Oxford University Press.
Eickhoff, S. B., Yeo, B. T., & Genon, S. (2018). Imaging-based parcellations of the human brain. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 19(11), 672-686.