Human Brain

Presentation held at English Communication

Club (www.encc.ru), 2010
Contents
 Interesting facts about Human Brain
 Introduction
 Fundamental features of human brain
 Energy consumption
 Violation of day regimen might harm memory
 Excessive noise and mental concentration
 Are action games useful?
 Center for humor in human brain
 Sing songs for your own benefit!
 Why sunlight causes sneezing?
 Yawning helps to wake up
 Brain development
 IQ tests
 Brain understands men easier than women
 Ways of improving brain productivity
 Efficient way to learn something new
Introduction
Unfortunately, scientists still do not know what


the human brain exactly is. Of cause, there

were conducted hundreds and thousands of
studies of human brain structure and
substance, but the process of thinking is still
the enigma to all. There is very fascinating
suggestion regarding such features of human
brain as consciousness and self-examination,
stating that these features are unexpected
consequences of unity of multitude of
neurons; something similar to avalanches
which are unexpected consequence of unity of
multitude of grains of sand. If it’s true,
evolution of nervous systems approaches the
turning point where ‘greater’ turns into
‘different’.
Fundamental features of human brain
 The human brain contains more than 100,000,000,000
(100 billion) neurons. This is more than 16 times
greater than human population on the Earth. Each
neuron is connected with more than 10,000 of other
neurons. By transmitting of nerve impulses, neurons
ensure continuous work of brain.


 Nerve impulses can travel at 120 meters/second. Toward

the older age this velocity gradually decreases up to
15%.


 Every minute through the brain flow 750 ml of blood (15-

20% of total blood flow in human body).


 Some neurons are over a meter long.



 When areas of the brain are damaged, other areas can

actually take over the job of the damaged area.
Energy consumption
Human brain during wakefulness consumes 25


Watts of energy. This amount of energy

enough to light small light bulb. Although
brain weighs only 2-3% of total body mass, it
consumes 20% of energy generated by our
body. This energy supports normal work of
brain and transmission of neural signals.
Violation of day regimen might harm
memory
Constant changes or violations of day regimen


harm health of brain. For instance, frequently

flying from one time zone to another people
(politicians, businessmen) risk to damage their
brains irreparably.

Excessive noise and mental concentration
Why can’t we concentrate on telephone


conversation in noisy environment?



It is scientifically proven fact that human brain



is unable to concentrate on something

mentally difficult if there is distracting noise.
The proven way to solve that problem is to
close another ear(s) by hand(s). 


Also you will greatly increase the efficiency of



your studies by doing them in right time (not

too late) and in right place (calm, noiseless
and sufficiently lighted).



Are action games useful?
Action games are useful. Why? Because during
playing “kill em all” computer games you
need to pay attention to and concentrate on
multiple factors simultaneously. This is just
what our brains need. It is worth to note that
Tetris will not help you as much as will action
game just because Tetris is much easier to
handle than any of ‘multi factorial’ games.
Undoubtedly, there are serious issues regarding

the influence of ‘bloody’ action games on

children psychology. One of the possible
approaches is to find something like arcade
stylized games.

Center for humor in human brain
Psychologists discovered the fact that the laugh


is the consequence of illogical structure of

joke. While listening to the humorous story,
our brain unconsciously develops the
continuation of this story. Joke usually ends in
absolutely illogical manner, causing our brain
to stop for a several milliseconds at this
surprise. Then we start to realize the paradox
and to laugh at the joke.


This fact has a medical confirmation. Some of



patients with injured frontal lobe of brain can’t

understand humor at all. They are just unable
physically to process information in normal
order.
Sing songs for your own benefit!
It might seems strange, but silly songs which


sometimes we can’t get rid off, help our brain.

As the specialists think, this songs, consisting
of simple word chains, give a chance to
develop our brain even further, due to
associations that brain has to analyze.


It is semi-unconscious process; that’s why it



almost always can’t be controlled. However,

you can interrupt the chain by principle ‘one
nail drives out another’.
Why sunlight causes sneezing?
Sneezing (eng.) – чихание (рус.)


Sunlight rays, falling into the nose, irritate



certain centers of brain. Signals from these

centers go to a special brain zone which is
called ‘lateral medulla’. This zone is
responsible for such important function as
sneezing.
Yawning helps to wake up
Yawning (eng.) – зевание (рус.)


Despite the common association of yawning



with sleepiness, actually yawning helps us to

wake up. During yawning large volumes of air
circulate in our lungs, enriching blood with
oxygen. Enriched blood helps our organism to
get rid off the various waste products and it
starts to work more actively.


Of cause, it’s impossible to substitute healthy



dream with only yawning, but light sleepiness

will get away.
Brain development
 Like muscles, brain develops with the proper training. The
average weigh of adult male’s brain is 1,424 g. Towards
old age average weigh decreases to 1,395 g. The
heaviest female’s brain weigh is 1,565 g. Record weigh
of male’s brain — 2049 g. Human brain evolves – in
1860 average weight of male’s brain was 1,372 g.
Minimal weigh of normal human brain (woman 31 y.
old) is 1,096 g.


 Dinosaurs that was up to 9 meters long had brains of size

similar to size of Circassian walnut and weigh of 70 g.


 The most rapid developments of brain occur in the period

between 2 and 11 years.


 The best way to train and develop brain is to perform

previously unfamiliar activity. Another one is
communication with someone who is more intellectual
than you.
IQ tests
 The record IQ test score (228) possess Marilyn vos Savant
(USA, Missouri). This achievement was recorded in
Guinness World Records book. She is the member of
such privileged societies as Mensa International and
Mega Society.


 The highest average national IQ is 111 (Japanese). 10% of

Japanese have IQ greater than 130.


 It is worth to note that the IQ test isn’t reliable measure

of neither true intellectual level nor business abilities. In
fact, as Marilyn vos Savant agrees, human intellect is
too broad and versatile to be measured reliably by any
of existing tests.
Brain understands men easier than women
Men and women voices influence different brain
zones. Women voice usually is more musical,
sounds at higher frequencies; range of
frequencies is broader than that of men voice.
Therefore, human brain needs to decipher the

meaning of women speech (with additional

difficulties). By the way, those people who
suffer from delusions, more often hear voice(s)
of men.
Ways of improving brain productivity (part
1)
 1. Sleep. Enough said. Lack of sleep results in dismal performance, not to
mention a weakening of the immune system. Get into a good sleep routine
and tack on a few extra hours on the weekends.


 2. Eat properly. Our bodies are much more sophisticated than the best Ferrari
on the market. Would you put cheap, low grade 87 octane into a Ferrari
engine? Definitely not. Likewise, fuel your body with the best foods you can:
fish loaded with Omega 3 fat acids for increased memory, garlic for immune
system boost and pure energy.


 3. Take multivitamins. These potent antioxidants work wonders for the various
organs.


 4. Start an exercise routine. Walk, jog, cycle, swim, lift weights, whatever suits
your fancy. The key is to get your blood circulating so all these vitamins can
work their way to the brain and the cells in order to be utilized most
efficiently. Exercising a few times a week also aids in better sleep and builds
self esteem. Try starting the morning off with a 20 minute jog and watch how
much better you feel!


 5. Drink green tea. For over 4,000 years the Chinese have been drinking green
tea as both a medicinal healer and health enhancer. Green tea contains
ECGC, one of the most powerful antioxidants known (recently published in
the Harvard Medical Association Journal) which wards off certain cancers and
keeps blood pressure low.
Ways of improving brain productivity (part
2)
6. Take a hot bath. A bath relaxes the muscles and relieves the


sinuses preparing you for a deeper, more relaxing sleep.



7. Get some sunlight. No, you don`t need to go sunbathing all day,


however it is beneficial to get away from your PC every now and

then for a walk in the park or hike up a local mountain. Sunlight
triggers the increased production of the feel-good brain chemical,
serotonin - which, as well as controlling your sleep patterns, body
temperature, and drive, lifts your mood and helps ward off
depression.


8. Drink plenty of water. Our brain contains 75% of water, so you need


to drink enough in order to support water balance.



9. Scientists discovered that the more educated is person, the



healthier is his or her brain. Intellectual activity stimulates brain

and saves it from diseases.


These are just personal recommendations. Everybody is different so



through trial and error, see what works best for you. One thing is
certain: a healthy body maintains a healthy mind, and a healthy
mind results in better performance when you need it most.
Efficient way to learn something new
 If you need to accomplish some really challenging task, e.g. to prepare to a
difficult exam or test, consider the following points:


 1. Consider it marathon, not sprint. For instance, 10 hours a week is almost

always optimal workload. By studying 5 hours a day and working full time
you will burn out yourself with such consequences as lost of motivation and
giving up your studies.


 2. It is much better to study 90 minutes a day than take long study sessions on
weekend.


 3. For better memorizing consider drawing mind maps and creating your own
list of important concepts and formulas.


 4. Use moderate physical exercises as the means of relaxing stress and

boosting energy.


 5. The night before the test, do something relaxing and get to bed early. Watch
a movie, read a book, go out with family or friends. And don’t touch any
study materials! Last-minute cramming will only stress you out further, and
it’s a waste of time anyway, because if you haven’t internalized the info by
the night before the test, you certainly won’t internalize it by the next
morning.