Fun Facts about the Brain
9th March 2022The human brain doesn’t look like much, it’s made up of grey fats and proteins but it is one of the most mysterious and complex organs. Here are some fun facts on the human brain that will blow your mind away.
- The brain has over 86 billion neurons can store around 2,500,000 gigabytes and has over 50,000 thoughts a day.
- The average human attention span is shorter than that of a goldfish. Resent studies found that our attentions span has decreased from 12 seconds then to 8 seconds. A goldfish’s attentions span is 9 seconds.
- The average human brain weighs between 1300 and 1400 grams is 140 mm wide, 167 mm long and 93 mm high.
- We have 2 types of memory, long and short term memory. Your short term memory also known as working memory allows you to remember information long enough for you to use it.
- Want to improve your memory? Taking vitamin B1 can help. Vitamin B1 help produce the brain chemical acetylcholine, which is essential for concentrating and storing memories.
- Memories can start forming in the womb from around 4 months already. So, keep talking to your unborn and play your favourite music.
- The brain uses 20% of the body’s oxygen and energy which is supplied to the brain through your blood vessels. You can suffer impaired brain functions and neurological disorders without adequate oxygen and energy to the central nervous system tissue.
- Your brain is composed of 73% water and it only take 2% of dehydration to affect your attention and memory. Excessive sweating can temporarily shrink the brain.
- Five minutes without oxygen to the brain can cause the brain cells to die causing brain damage.
- Your brain generates around 12 to 15 watts of electricity, enough to power a low wattage light bulb.
- Neurons travel 150 mph in the brain, different neurons move at different speeds.
- You are 65% more likely to remember facts after taking a quiz twice.
- The brain forms new connections between neurons when we learn something new, this increases the gray matter in our brains.
- Our brains has between 50,000 to 70,000 thoughts a day, sadly the majority of thoughts are negative.
- We have roughly around 100 billion brain cells and more than 100,000 chemical reactions take place every second.
- Can’t remember what happened after a great party and a bit too much drinking? The brain is incapable of forming memories when intoxicated.
- The human brain’s texture and consistency can be compared to the same texture and consistency as Tofu. Not surprising, seeing that it’s made up primarily of gray and white matter, as well as water.
- The cognitive speed of your brain starts slowing down from the age of 24.
- Around 95% of decisions we make take place in the subconscious mind, meaning that the majority of our behavior and actions are done subconsciously.
- Sleep is very important, being sleep deprived can have an impact on your memory, attention, mood, logic and information processing. The brain never fully shuts down, dreams are proof of that.
- Pain is processed in the brain but the organ itself cannot feel pain this is why surgeries can be done while the patient is awake.
- Stress is bad for your overall health but it is just as bad for your brain, it can cause problems with learning and many important aspects of cognition. Our brains can only deal with short-term stresses, so if you are very stressed find coping mechanisms to assist you in extremely stressful times.
For a healthy and happy brain give it the things it likes, sleeping, exercising and learning. Have a healthy diet filled with vegetables, fruit and healthy fats. Stop stressing and get enough rest.
Your brain ages just like the rest of your body, it shrinks in size, slows down in speed, and becomes less adaptable to change. Your brain determines every aspect of your life and without your brain, there is no life.