Picasso once said “Art is a lie that reveals the truth.” In order to comprehend any of these we need the brain. We can think of our nervous system to be some kind of an information highway system where the brain acts as the chief controller of information along this highway. Brain acts as the smartest buffer possible (through years of chiseling through evolution) between the self and the environment. Signals are sent from brain through the nervous system to control rest of the body so as to facilitate our survival in a given environment. In fact the very essence of life is to live and the brain is the most component in this process.
The human brain for example is believed to be one of the most complexly organized structures around. A journey into such complexity will startle and astound us. The brain is made up of 100 billion nerve cells called neurons. These neurons are not isolated beasts. They do complex networking with fellow neurons just as we do through social networking sites like facebook and twitter. Each neuron is physically connected to around 5000-10000 other neurons through contact points called synapses where all neuronal gossiping and exchange of information happens. They form distinct closely knit society called circuits. It is through these circuits that information along the highway is transferred. These circuits give functional identity to the brain. For example there are specific circuits for memory, love, vision etc. It is believed that the number of possible permutations and combinations which the brain circuits can exhibit through their activities can theoretically exceed the number of elementary particles in the known universe.
The human brain, a spongy mass of roughly 3 pounds can store more information than a supercomputer and the cognitive abilities of the brain have helped us to perform miracles all through the years of human existence, be it contemplating the vastness of interstellar space, walking on the moon, composing masterpieces in art, literature or music, advancement in science and technology or even understanding and wading through the turmoil which come our way of survival. In short we are what our brains are.
Neuroscientists specialize in the study of the brain and the nervous system. There is a growing need to understand the brain and the basic principles which govern its functions. There lies the daunting task of deciphering the brain’s commands for all these diverse and complex functions it performs. There is a constant strive for a deeper understanding of how the brain’s 100 billion nerve cells are born, grow, connect and reconnect with time to form functional circuits.
There are specific diseases of the nervous system which leads to debilitating condition and challenges the survival of the sufferers for example the Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, autism , mental retardation, multiple sclerosis, stress and depression and hoards of other psychiatric and neurological conditions. We need to understand what goes wrong in these disease conditions so as to intervene and provide therapeutic benefits to those affected.
In brief, our understanding of brain we will lead to better understanding of our own selves. In words of Hippocrates ‘ Men ought to know that from the brain and from the brain only, arise our pleasures, joy, laughter and jests, as well as our sorrows, pains, griefs and tears’
The human brain for example is believed to be one of the most complexly organized structures around. A journey into such complexity will startle and astound us. The brain is made up of 100 billion nerve cells called neurons. These neurons are not isolated beasts. They do complex networking with fellow neurons just as we do through social networking sites like facebook and twitter. Each neuron is physically connected to around 5000-10000 other neurons through contact points called synapses where all neuronal gossiping and exchange of information happens. They form distinct closely knit society called circuits. It is through these circuits that information along the highway is transferred. These circuits give functional identity to the brain. For example there are specific circuits for memory, love, vision etc. It is believed that the number of possible permutations and combinations which the brain circuits can exhibit through their activities can theoretically exceed the number of elementary particles in the known universe.
The human brain, a spongy mass of roughly 3 pounds can store more information than a supercomputer and the cognitive abilities of the brain have helped us to perform miracles all through the years of human existence, be it contemplating the vastness of interstellar space, walking on the moon, composing masterpieces in art, literature or music, advancement in science and technology or even understanding and wading through the turmoil which come our way of survival. In short we are what our brains are.
Neuroscientists specialize in the study of the brain and the nervous system. There is a growing need to understand the brain and the basic principles which govern its functions. There lies the daunting task of deciphering the brain’s commands for all these diverse and complex functions it performs. There is a constant strive for a deeper understanding of how the brain’s 100 billion nerve cells are born, grow, connect and reconnect with time to form functional circuits.
There are specific diseases of the nervous system which leads to debilitating condition and challenges the survival of the sufferers for example the Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, autism , mental retardation, multiple sclerosis, stress and depression and hoards of other psychiatric and neurological conditions. We need to understand what goes wrong in these disease conditions so as to intervene and provide therapeutic benefits to those affected.
In brief, our understanding of brain we will lead to better understanding of our own selves. In words of Hippocrates ‘ Men ought to know that from the brain and from the brain only, arise our pleasures, joy, laughter and jests, as well as our sorrows, pains, griefs and tears’