8 myths about the human brain
Health / / December 19, 2019
1. We use only 10% of the brain
Neurobiologist Barry Gordon (Barry Gordon) has led several of evidence against the theory of ten percent.
brain scans using MRI and positron emission tomography revealed that there are no unused area. In addition, numerous studies have found brain departments that do not have a specific function.
Theory ten percent contrary to the principles of evolution. The brain consumes a lot of energy to the body allowed him to do nothing. In keeping with this, scientists observed unused degeneration of brain cells.
2. People with well-developed left brain more rational, and with a strong right - the more creative
Scientists from the University of Utah investigated More than a thousand people and found no evidence that they use mainly the left or right hemisphere. All participants, including scientists, equally use both hemispheres of the brain.
However, the predominant use of one hemisphere to perform specific functions still real. Scientists call this lateralization. For example, right-handed language skills controlled by the left hemisphere of the brain. However, this does not mean that the brilliant writers or speakers use the left hemisphere is more than right, or that there were more neurons.
3. Alcohol kills brain cells
When ethanol into the blood, liver enzymes convert it into toxic acetaldehyde and then to acetate, which in turn splits into water and carbon dioxide and excreted. However, the liver has time to deal only with a certain amount of ethanol. If alcohol flows faster than the liver can break down him, he continues to travel the blood prior to processing.
But when alcohol reaches the brain, the cells do not die. Instead, the rate of reaction is suppressed between the dendrites in the cerebellum. Therefore, people in strong alcoholic intoxication so clumsy move and could not keep his balance.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis cameEthanol enhances neurosteroidogenesis in hippocampal pyramidal neurons by paradoxical NMDA receptor activation to the same conclusion. Ethanol does not kill neurons. Even in direct contact with them, it just prevents the transmission of information between nerve cells.
4. Nerve cells do not regenerate
For a long time, scientists believed that people are born with a certain set of nerve cells during the life of their number only is reduced. But studies have found that adults, too, there are new nerve cells.
Peter Eriksson (Peter Eriksson) from the Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden and Fred Gage (Fred H. Gage) of the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in California have discoveredNeurogenesis in the adult human hippocampus neurogenesis in the brain of a person 72 years of age.
Ericsson and his colleagues used a chemical marker for the identification of new neurons. Since mature neurons are not able to share, the emergence of new cells in the brain due to the spread of stem cells and their development into mature neurons.
5. Certain areas of the brain perceive the information only on the specific sensory organs
Previously it was thought that the brain has a certain area, sharpened for specific tasks, such as the visual cortex that exists solely for the perception of visual information. However, scientists have proven that the brain is very plastic, and can be adapted to use a zone and no flow of information from the senses, supposedly designed for them.
For example, blind people, reading books in Braille, use the same area of the brain that are involved while reading from sighted. In addition, people who are blind visual areas of the brain are activated by hearing. Perhaps that is why they have more acute hearing.
Another proof of the plasticity of the brain - the phantom pain in amputees. When a person loses an arm or leg, the brain region responsible for the sensitivity in this area is no longer stimulated. Then the brain forms new connections between neurons in such a way that the excitation in the areas responsible for motor function and sensitivity, is stored in both hemispheres. Furthermore, the dead zone is stimulated by signals from adjacent to the amputated limb areas of the body. Because of this, people can clearly feel that touch his fingers amputated when actually touching another part of the body.
Another example - due to shock when disconnected neurons that send signals to the hand. With the help of therapy can help the neighboring areas of the brain to take over functions of the dead zone, and people will be able to move the limb.
6. Games for the development of the brain make you more intelligent
Scientists from the Research Institute of Cambridge conducted a scientific experimentPutting brain training to the testDesigned to prove the futility of popular games for brain development. During his 11 430 members a few times a week, playing educational games, which were to improve memory, attention, visual-spatial orientation, planning and creation of cause and effect ties.
After six weeks of training in each game was seen progress. However, there was no evidence that games help develop these skills in general, as new tasks, for which trainees are required cognitive function, no improvement was observed.
In other words, participants simply had training to perform specific tasks, but do not become more intelligent, because the new challenges their ability to remain at the same level.
7. With age, the brain function weaken
Memory and logical thinking is really getting worse as we get older, but other brain functions such can be said. For example, the adoption of moral decisions, management of emotions and reading social situations in the 40-50 years are working much better than 20 or 30 years.
In this case, there are ways to prevent the age-related decline in cognitive function and keep the brain young and healthy.
8. We remember what it was
In fact, we remember a very limited number of visual images and sensations and can not cover the whole situation fully, even in the present moment. Remembering the story of the first time, we lose even more detail, in the second - does not appeal to past situations, and to his half storshemusya memories of her.
Thus, the longer the event, the less detail we can remember, until the story does not turn into a skeleton. Therefore we can not say with certainty that we remember exactly what it was.
If you know of other common myths about the brain, share in the comments.