Originally published 2020-05-12.
Separate estimates from settled measurements
Brain facts often depend on how a process is defined and measured. A striking number should retain its source and should not be treated as a score of personal ability.
The human brain and mind are incredible. They can help us reach any peak, make our dreams come true, and achieve the most difficult goal. However, if we want it all, we first need to understand the main principles on which our mind works.
1) For our mind, there's no difference between reality and imagination.
This popular claim is an exaggeration. Imagining an action can activate some of the same brain areas as doing it, and expectations can produce real effects, as with the placebo response, but healthy people can normally tell memories of real events from things they imagined.
2) Mental work does not tire our brain.
This claim is only partly true. The brain’s overall energy use changes little between rest and hard thinking, and much of the tiredness people feel after mental work is linked to motivation and mood. Still, long periods of demanding mental effort can impair later performance, so mental fatigue is real.
3) Most commonly the brain works automatically.
Much of what the brain does runs on habit and needs little conscious attention. The often-repeated statistic that most of today’s thoughts repeat yesterday’s has no clear scientific source, but habitual thinking patterns are real, and approaches such as cognitive behavioural therapy help people notice and change unhelpful ones.
4) We see what we think about.
Any thoughts turn into our life experiences. For instance, if you dream about a trip to Rome, you'll notice reminders of this city everywhere. If you want to change something in the world, change the way you think first.
5) Just like the muscles, the brain needs training too.
The brain doesn't differ from our muscles: it needs training as well. Learning, fresh air workouts, a healthy diet, sound sleep, trips and journeys, new hobbies, making notes, dancing, and playing music are all useful for our brain.
6) The brain never rests.
Even when we're asleep, our brain keeps working. During REM sleep, when most vivid dreaming happens, activity in many areas approaches waking levels, although the brain is not more active overall at night than during the day.
7) Shutting down from time to time is essential.
Regular breaks and good sleep help the brain recover and are linked to better mood and concentration, while chronic stress can weaken immune responses. Active rest, such as a walk or a hobby, is a useful kind of relaxation for many people.
8) It's good to forget so that we keep the flexibility of our nervous system.
To "save" our new memories, our mind needs to get rid of old ones. It'd be cool if we were able to decide what we want to remember and what to forget. It would help if we used the information we wanted to preserve more often.
9) The brain is insensitive to pain.
Our brain reacts to pain but does not feel it because it lacks necessary receptors. However, this doesn’t apply to several blood vessels, nerves, and tissues that surround the brain.
10) We can change our brain if we want to.
The brain keeps forming and reshaping neural connections throughout life, a property called neuroplasticity, and practice strengthens the skills we use. Belief alone does not create opportunities, but people who expect to improve tend to practise more and persist longer, which helps them reach their goals.
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