Neuroscience has revealed that the average adult brain contains around 86 billion specialized neurons that make it possible for humans to experience a richly nuanced existence. There are at least 1,000 times more neuronal connections, called synapses, in our brains than there are stars in our galaxy. Signals travel through synapses at different speeds, reaching up to 268 miles per hour along the spinal cord.
The cerebral cortex, the brain’s outer layer, stretches to the size of a large pizza if smoothed out. However, misconceptions exist about the brain, one of which is that it is best understood by separating it into regions and studying their unique contributions to various mental processes. Instead, neuroscientist Luiz Pessoa suggests that understanding the brain’s complexity would benefit more from exploring how things intertwine and connect rather than separate.
He calls for a more systems-oriented, context-dependent investigation of the brain. Pessoa highlights the brain’s “massive combinatorial connectivity,” which allows signals to travel between neurons in countless combinations. He suggests thinking of the brain more in terms of circuits and networks and less in terms of isolated regions.
Key Takeaways:
- The human brain, with its approximately 86 billion specialized neurons, is responsible for our ability to experience a richly nuanced existence.
- The brain has a vast number of neuronal connections, or synapses, and signals can travel through these at varying speeds, contributing to the brain’s complexity.
- Neuroscientist Luiz Pessoa suggests that understanding the brain requires a systems-oriented approach that considers how different parts of the brain interact and connect, rather than studying isolated regions.
“Instead, Pessoa suggests that infinitely intricate phenomena, including how the brain gives rise to mental activity, will benefit from exploring how things intertwine and connect rather than separate; how they fit together and interact, rather than isolate.”
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