How the brain works

Summary

The human brain, though seemingly simple, is an extraordinary and complex organ. It comprises mostly water and fats, weighing about as much as four tubs of butter. Despite its small size, it uses 20% of the body's energy. Neurons, the brain's building blocks, form trillions of neural connections, transmitting electrical impulses and chemical signals. These connections are similar to an electrical grid, powering thoughts, movements, and feelings. With its constant electrical activity, the brain generates enough energy to power a light bulb, showcasing its immense power and complexity.

Takeaways

• 😀 The brain is an intriguing organ that might seem simple, but it's a powerhouse of activity.
• 😀 It resembles a spongy mass of tissue and feels like tofu, but it plays a vital role in every human function.
• 😀 Despite its appearance, the brain is mostly water (about 80%) and only about 10% fats.
• 😀 The brain makes up roughly 2% of the body’s total weight, yet it consumes 20% of the body’s energy.
• 😀 The brain’s basic building blocks are neurons, with around 100 billion of them in total.
• 😀 Each neuron has between 1,000 to 10,000 connections to other neurons, forming neural pathways.
• 😀 There are trillions of neural connections within the brain, similar to a city’s electrical grid.
• 😀 Information travels through the brain along these neural pathways using chemical messages and electrical impulses.
• 😀 The brain generates between 10 to 25 watts of power, which is enough to light a small bulb.
• 😀 Over the course of a day, the brain generates more electrical impulses from neurons firing than all the telephones in the world combined.
• 😀 Despite its simple appearance, the brain is the most complex organ in the body, functioning like a power station that controls thoughts, movements, and emotions.

Q & A

What is the brain primarily made of?

The brain is primarily made up of water (mostly) and about 10% fats.

How much does the brain weigh compared to everyday objects?

The brain weighs roughly the equivalent of four tubs of butter.

What percentage of the body's energy does the brain use?

The brain uses about 20% of the body's total energy.

What is the primary building block of the brain?

The primary building block of the brain is neurons.

How many neurons are in the human brain?

The human brain contains around 100 billion neurons.

How many connections can each neuron have?

Each neuron can have between 1,000 to 10,000 connections to other neurons.

What are neural pathways in the brain?

Neural pathways, or 'roads', are the connections between neurons that help transmit information across the brain.

What is the comparison made between the brain's neural connections and a city?

The neural connections in the brain are compared to a city's electrical power grid, as both involve a complex network for transmitting energy and information.

How much electrical power does the brain generate?

The brain generates between 10 to 25 watts of electrical power, which is enough to power a light bulb.

How does the brain's electrical activity compare to telephones?

Over the course of a day, the brain generates more electrical impulses from firing neurons than all of the telephones in the world combined.