Myths about Human Brain

The Human Brain is a power organ that controls all body functions, interprets information from the outside world and stores that information in our memory. Composed of Cerebrum, cerebellum and brainstem, the brain controls our capacity for art, language, moral judgment and rational thought. But we humans have some very wrong ideas about our brain. Here are some of the myths about the common centre of the human nervous system.

Myth: We use only 10% of our brains – This is one of the most popular myths about brain. It can only be tracked down by the reverse energy theory by Harvard Psychologists William James and Boris Sidis. In 1890s, they tested the theory in the accelerated raising of a child, thereafter; James said that people only meet a fraction of their full mental potential, which is a plausible claim. Many of us believe that we could achieve so much more – learning new languages, musical instruments and sports – if only we applied ourselves. The myth sounds appealing because they see in terms of human potential – implying that we have huge reserves of untapped mental powers.

Myth: Brain damage is permanent – The brain can repair or compensate for certain losses, and even generate new cells. Scientists believe that the brain was unalterable, that once it was ‘broken’, it could not be fixed. However, it should be noted that the brain remains plastic throughout life, and can rewire itself in response to learning.

Myth: Doing crossword puzzles improves memory – A study led by researchers found that solving crossword puzzles initially delayed the onset of memory decline in individuals between the ages of 75 and 85, but sped the decline once a person showed signs of dementia. Today, most neurologists agree there is no harm in the activity but there is no great benefit other than making you an expert in crossword puzzles.

Myth: Being in coma is like being asleep. You wake up well rested – In real life, those emerging from coma often suffer disabilities and need rehabilitation. Scientists in 2012 found that high traffic brain regions – normally bright hubs of activity, even during sleep – are dark in coma patients while other areas inexplicably light up.

Myth: Headaches are in the brain – Headaches are thought to be caused by the tension and swelling of blood vessels of the brain. But there are no pain receptors in the brain itself. However, the meninges (covering around the brain), periosteum (covering on the bones), and the scalp have pain receptors. Headaches are actually caused by the tightening of the muscles in the neck and the head. Headaches may also be caused by an imbalance in serotonin levels. Serotonin is essential for regulating mood, sleep and blood vessel size.

Myth: The brains are biologically better suited for Math and Science, female brains are empathy – There are small anatomical differences between male and female brains. The hippocampus, involved in memory, is usually larger in women, while the amygdala, involved in emotion, is larger in men, which is quite contrary to the myth. Evidence suggests gender disparities are due to cultural expectations, not biology.

Myth: A person’s personality displays a right brain or left brain dominance – The two sides of the brain are intricately co-dependent. We often hear that one can be “right brained” or “left brained” and that those who favor the right are more creative or artistic and those who favor the left are more technical and logical. But brain scanning technology has revealed that the two hemispheres of the brain most often work together in complex processing. For example, language processing, once believed to be the provenance of the left hemisphere only, is now understood to take place in both hemispheres: the left side processes grammar and pronunciation while the right processes intonation.

The Human brain is the largest brain of all vertebrates relative to body size. It weighs about 1.5 kg. The cerebrum makes up 85% of the brain weight. Brain makes up about 2% of a person body weight. It contains about 100 Billion nerve cells. These neurons are connected by trillions of connections or synapses. It contains 1 Billion nerve fibers (axons and dendrites). At any given time, the brain can generate up to 25 watts of power. That’s enough to power a light bulb. Information can fly around your brain at 260 mph. A Human brain can have a storage capacity of anywhere between 3 terabytes and 1,000 terabytes.

Ways to stay ahead in Digital Advertising

In the last three decades, the evolution of the advertising industry has accelerated almost unimaginably. The gradual movement from Print to Audio, and then to Television, has been replaced by the leaps and bounds of the digital age. If we are going to continue to meet the industry’s needs, it’s vital that we adapt quickly to keep up. No matter how much support executives offer, though, a big part of learning is self-directed. Here are some tips:-

Be Curious – Research shows that not only are we better at learning things we are interested in, but we’re also actually more receptive to new information, regardless of subject, when we’re working on something that inspires our curiosity. With practice, we can cultivate curiosity as a habit.

Emulate – When we see something that works, whether it’s a stunning ad campaign or an innovative workflow, replication alone will yield few results. When we come across a successful campaign it behooves us to ask what problem was solved or what challenge was overcome. By bringing this curiosity to bear effective solutions, we can better understand which pieces are relevant to our work.

Learn from Mistakes – Our brains are wired to learn from the decisions of others, and the kick we get when they stumble may be an evolutionary incentive to take note of where they fell short. Understanding why a seemingly airtight presentation missed its mark can help us avoid making similar mistakes in the future and can point us to areas with high growth potential.

Stay Informed – Keeping up on developments in the industry is critical to our own growth.

Be Attentive – While the toolkits and strategies our competitors use to forge ahead are often secret, their impact on the product is visible to anyone who takes the time to look.

Experiment – It’s important to continuously experiment with new workflows and techniques. There is no need to throw out the rulebook, but adding your own flourish to a tied and true tool or including a new approach in an otherwise conventional project, can be a great learning opportunity.

Plan Learning Time – By blocking out time in our busy schedules and setting concrete benchmarks, we can make learning a more engaged and rewarding experience.

Be Proactive – If there is a question you have, asking for a training module, or even just a clarifying comment, could benefit not just you, but the whole team.

Find a Mentor – Mentors can help situate developments in a broader view of the industry, not only helping us triangulate where we are but also building a more nuanced picture of what is to come.

Know yourself – We can only become truly effective learners by focusing the same critical eye on our own work that we do on the work of others.

Using these insights to set goals for ourselves and to inform an evolving strategy of success is the only way to effectively apply the learning techniques we integrate into our lives.

Effects of Technology on Life

According to studies, the average millennial picks up the smartphone 150 times a day. This over-dependence on tech is known as technology addiction. In 2008, a study conducted at Scotland’s Dundee University found that adults over the age of 55 who grew up in a household with a black and white TV set were more likely to dream in Black and white. Younger participants, who grew up in the age of Technicolor, nearly always experienced their dreams in color. The American Psychological Association seconded these findings in 2011.

Over-usage of technology damages the brain systems connecting emotional processing, attention and decision-making. A new study links anxiety, severe depression, suicide attempts and suicide with the rise in use of smartphones, tablets and other devices.

FOMO – Fear of Missing Out is defined by The New York Times as “the blend of anxiety”, inadequacy and irritation that can flare up while skimming social media. Social Media is bombarded with pictures and posts of scrumptious dinners, raging parties and enviable travel check-ins. These activities might not be one’s idea of fun, but when one recognizes that pang, “Should I be doing something else right now?” that’s FOMO.

Phantom Vibration Syndrome – This is the perception that one’s mobile is vibrating and ringing when it is not. It is characterized as a tactile hallucination since the brain perceives a sensation that is not present. Psychologists suggested that physical sensations, such as an itch, may be misinterpreted by the brain as a vibrating phone. Majority of cell phone users report experiencing phantom vibrations, with reporting rates ranging from 27.4% to 89%.

Shortened Attention Span – The constant use of technology has shortened our attention span from 12 Minutes to 5 Minutes. Constant news feeds and videos that are 10 Minutes or less has rewired our brains. People who are online an average of 5 hours a day have trouble remembering people’s names.

Popcorn Brain – The constant stimulation from electronics makes our brain accustom to “popping”, fast paced stream of information that we find on the internet. This is why we are becoming increasingly less adept to handle the slower pace of real life. This condition is known as “Popcorn Brain”.

Technology has altered human physiology. It affects memory, attention spans and sleep cycles. This is attributed to a scientific phenomenon known as neuroplasticity, or the brain’s ability to alter its behavior based on new experiences. Tech addiction may be a risk factor for alcohol and other drug abuse. People who overuse technology develop similar brain chemistry and neutral patterning to those who are addicted to substances.

Brain scans of people with tech addiction disorder are similar to those of people with substance addictions of alcohol, cocaine and cannabis.

Art of Running a Marathon

“We are different, in essence, from other men. If you want to win something, run 100 meters. If you want to experience something, run a marathon.” – Emil Zatopek

Recently, I ran the Jaipur City Marathon. It took me 4 Hours and 57 Minutes. My decision to run the marathon was based entirely on my lifelong dream of accomplishing such a feat. It was about realizing a dream and proving to me that I could do it. However, along the way, I realized numerous other benefits. I got into the best shape of my life. I found countless hours to reflect on my life and I have learned some valuable lessons.

Run Tall – If athlete back is collapsed a little bit then it makes it harder to breathe as easily and as freely as you might. Lengthened your back not stiff it, like an upward direction in the body. That takes the pressure off the ribs, off the diaphragm and one can breathe better.

Head Balancing – If one doesn’t balance his/her neck and spine nicely then it creates a lot of strain. One should be upright and looking forward. By this, one doesn’t feel so tight or cramped in his/her shoulders and have a greater range of arm movement too. It also helps psychologically not to be looking down at the floor when one gets to the point where legs are complaining.

Fuel Properly – One can’t complete a marathon without fueling his/her body correctly. Fuel your body properly by eating healthy.

Compete Less, Encourage More – It isn’t all about winning or losing, it’s about the experience and being in it together. Encourage all runners around you.

Feet and Arms in sync – Land your feet directly underneath body rather than shooting out in front. This reduces the braking forces and helps one run lightly. Also, move arms backwards and forwards slightly across body. When arms are used in this co-ordinated and rhythmic fashion, they are a wonderful source of power.

Knowing your Strength – One can discover their hidden strengths they never knew they had. Because strength comes from overcoming tasks which once thought were impossible to do.

Get Proper Gear – Select pair of shoes/socks wisely which doesn’t impact your knees while running on mortar road. Get used to shoes pair which you will wear on Marathon Day. Wear sweat absorb tees/shorts to avoid itching and load of sweating.

Hydration & Nutrition – Make your body properly hydrated before, during and after the race. Focus on having foods which have a low glycemic index (GI), such as oats, pasta and sweet potatoes. Get used to food one plan to eat or drink on race day during the training itself. Fats are advisable because they take about 2 hours more to burn compared to carbohydrates. Body will switch to fats as the energy source after initial carbohydrates have been burnt off.

Strength Training – Do a strength training session two-three times a week. Plantar flexion stretches, Knee extensions, shin and hip extension exercises are important to give forward thrust while running.

Increase Tempo – For long runs, get used to 10 Km run daily followed by Half Marathon once a week and increase tempo slowly.

One last thing to remember, over training can lead to injury and injury can lead to giving up. Don’t let a setback stop you in your pursuit of what you want. Take the spirit of determination of the marathon runner. Keep moving forward, one step at a time and one foot in front of the other until you get to finishing line. 

I will end with one of my favorite quote from Dean Karnazes: “Run when you can, walk if you have to, crawl if you must; JUST NEVER GIVE UP!”