What is the brain used for?

A host of things!

It is used for thinking, remembering, imagining and feeling emotions. It issues commands to the rest of the body to enable it to move and speak. It is also the brain that receives sensations from the body and from sight, taste, touch, hearing and smell.

Lastly, it works to make all of the other organs in the body function smoothly.

How does it work ?

The brain contains 100 billion grey cells, called neurons. These neurons are connected to one another by fine threads, axons, through which information is passed in the form of minute electrical discharges.

A human brain contains 100,000 km of axons!

The brain “thinks” by circulating information between the neurons.

Does it have more than one part ?

The main part of the brain is divided into 2 halves: the right hemisphere controls the left side of the body and the left hemisphere controls the right side. 

Other parts also control the necessary functions of our body: breathing, reflexes, etc. 

All of these parts work together when we think, act or feel emotions.

How does the brain issue commands to the body ?

Within the brain, there is a region for issuing commands to each part of the body. However, you don’t need to think to make each muscle move! The brain is able to automatically do the major work. It gets its bearings on the position of the body and commands the muscle to move accordingly to achieve an objective.

The more a movement is practiced, the more the brain develops the region that commands it.

Do we use all of it ?

We sometimes hear it said that humans use only a small fraction of their brain capacity.

This is not true! In every healthy person, all parts of the brain are at work.

On the other hand, it is true that we have an almost limitless capacity for learning new things: the brain can always become more efficient.

What does it need ?

The brain need a great deal of energy to perform:

• It needs mostly oxygen and sugar which serve as food.
• Some foods are especially useful to the brain: vitamin B (whole breads, dry fruit), minerals (calcium, magnesium, iron), fatty acids (Omega-3 which is found in rapeseed, salmon and sardines
• It also requires water and sleep.