The human brain represents the pinnacle of a work-in-progress that’s been developing for as long as 850 million years. We have our brains to thank for virtually everything we enjoy, not only because there’s a sophisticated brain behind every work of art, smartphone, and air-conditioned room you’ve ever experienced, but also because it’s our brains that allow us to enjoy anything to begin with. Learning about the brain can itself be a great source of entertainment, so here are five amazing facts about the human brain from the experts at Georgia Brain & Spine Center:
Humans have the largest brains (about 3 pounds) of any vertebrates (animals with spines) relative to their body size. Our brains make up about 2% of our body weight on average. The largest animal on earth, the blue whale, has an enormous brain (about 15 pounds), but it only makes up roughly .007% of its total weight. - Speaking of brain size, an organism’s intelligence level is mainly determined by how many neurons it has, rather than being dependent on size (as the blue whale example illustrates). To further complicate the matter, amount of neurons don’t appear to be everything when it comes to determining intelligence. On average, men’s brains contain about 4 billion more neurons than women’s do, but there’s no measurable difference in average intelligence between men and women.
- The human brain has about 86 billion neurons (nerve cells), which is not far off from how many stars are estimated to be in the Milky Way (250 billion +/- 150 billion). When we start counting neural connections in the human brain, however, estimates go up to about 100 trillion. This means that your brain has at least 1,000 times as many neural connections as there are stars in our galaxy.
- The brain has a selective forcefield called the blood-brain barrier. This semi-permeable collection of cells keeps harmful substances from entering the brain and spinal cord through the bloodstream while simultaneously allowing crucial nutrients and oxygen through. It was discovered in the 1800s and is considered one of the brain’s most vital protective features.
- Despite making up 2% of our body mass, our brains consume 20% of our energy to maintain resting function. It turns out that the most sophisticated, complex computer in the known universe requires a lot of power to run itself.
These five facts only begin to illuminate how complex and fascinating the brain is. For treating issues with something so incredibly intricate and consequential, you need the very best surgeons in your corner. Come see the experts at Georgia Brain & Spine Center if you have a brain, spine, or neurological issue. If you’d like a second opinion on an initial diagnosis or have any questions we might be able to answer, contact Georgia Brain & Spine at 1 (800) GO-SPINE to schedule a consultation today. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest updates, and come back to the website soon for a new blog.