How often do you think about your thinker? The Brain, although undeniably important, it is often overshadowed by other bodily organs and functions. When we think exercise we think of how it may benefit the body image or general health. When we take medicine or vitamins, we think about the various items we may proactively or reactively seek to support or heal. We experience good or bad feelings and often relate them to matters of the heart. But what is a key component of all these actions? Answer: THINKING! And what are we processing those wants, needs, and desires with? Yes, the brain.
Brain Facts
- At birth our brains weigh an average of 350-400 g (about 4/5 lbs), as adults the brain averages 1300-1400 g (about 3 lbs).
- The composition of the brain = 77-78% water, 10-12% lipids, 8% protein, 1% carbs, 2% soluble organics, 1% inorganic salt.
- 750-1000 ml of blood flow through the brain every minute or about 3 full soda cans (but remember your brain needs that 77% water!).
- In that minute the brain will consume 46cm3 (1/5 cups) of oxygen from that blood. Of that oxygen consumed, 6% will be used by the brain's white matter and 94% by the grey matter.
- The brain can stay alive for 4 to 6 minutes without oxygen. After that cells begin die.10 seconds is the amount of time until unconsciousness after the loss of blood supply to the brain.
As we age, many people see their brain as stagnate. You may have heard or uttered a few of these thoughts:
- “I’m too old for that”
- “ I wish I could do that”
- “If only I had learned that”
- “ I just can’t wrap my head around that”
- "That's just not my thing"
You’re never to old to learn, grow, and try. The brain is capable and ready to be challenged. While intelligence is something a person embodies, it can also be improved. Here are few things you may not have known about your brain.
- There are about 100 billion neurons in the human brain, the same number of stars in our galaxy.
- The slowest speed at which information travels between neurons is 416 km/h or 260 mph, that's as "slow" as todays supercar's top speed (the Bugatti EB 16.4 Veyron clocked at 253 mph).
- During early pregnancy the rate of neuron growth is 250,000 neurons a minute.
- Results from cognitive tests show 30% of 80-year-olds perform as well as young adults.
- Your brain is about 2% of your total body weight but uses 20% of your body's energy.
- The energy used by the brain is enough to light a 25 watt bulb.
- 70,000 is the number of thoughts that it is estimated the human brain produces on an average day.
Fluid & Crystallized Intelligence
Did you know there are two basic types of intelligence? Thanks to psychologist Raymond Cattell & John L. Horn, we can now view intelligence from two different aspects. You can't have on without the other – they compliment each other and everyone embodies both.
Fluid Intelligence
- ability to reason quickly and to think abstractly.
- A factor in general intelligence.
- ability to reason and deal with complex information around us.
- This ability is considered independent of learning, experience, and education.
- continues to increase throughout childhood and adulthood.
- peaks in adolescence and begins to decline progressively beginning around age 30 or 40.
Crystallized Intelligence
- knowledge and skills that are accumulated over a lifetime.
- A factor in general intelligence.
- ability to reason and make sense of abstract information.
- This type of intelligence is based upon facts and rooted in experiences.
- continues to increase throughout childhood and adulthood.
- knowledge that comes from prior learning and past experiences.
Have some fun and empower your brain today!
You now know more about your very own brain and have insight into two very important types of human intelligence. Do you feel the power of your brain? Are you ready to “flex this muscle”? Although the brain is technically an organ, it can be beneficial for you to hold the perspective that your brain can grow in its abilities, and holds the ability to be “strengthened & conditioned”. Make it fun! Visit these sites or consider these services, see what they have to offer, and start empowering your brain today!
More Brain Facts
- After age 30, the brain shrinks a quarter of a percent (0.25%) in mass each year (don’t be deterredd!).
- Albert Einsteins brain weighed 1,230 grams (2.71 lbs), significantly less then the human average of 1,300g to 1,400g (3 lbs).
- Each year Americans consume 50 billion aspirin tablets or 15.5 million tons.
- 89.06 is the percentage of people who report normally writing with their right hand, 10.6% with their left and 0.34% with either hand.
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