How Well Do You Know Your Brain?

For all we know about the human body, there is still so much more to learn. And among all the body’s organs, the brain is the most complex…and the least understood. 

It’s not for lack of trying. Teams of scientists all over the world are currently tackling the brain’s secrets, and practically every day brings news of a brain-related study. (One example: You can stop feeling guilty about daydreaming at work—researchers have found it’s normal for our minds to wander.)

So: How much doyou know about the brain? 

What Part of the Brain Is Responsible for Thinking?

Answer: The frontal lobes of the cerebrum

When you look at a picture of a brain, you’re basically looking at thecerebrum; at 85% of the brain’s total weight, it fills most of your skull. (The two smaller parts are thecerebellum, which handles balance and coordination, and thebrainstem, which controls such life functions as respiration and heart rate.)

The cerebrum is divided into a number of lobes, including thefrontal lobes directly behind the forehead. This is your main thought-processing center. “When you plan a schedule, imagine the future or use reasoned arguments, these two lobes do much of the work,” says the National Institutes of Health.

True or False: You Only Use 10% of Your Brain At Any One Time.

Answer: False

A lot of people believe this one…and it just ain’t true. While not all brain regions are active at the same time, you use every bit of your brain every day.

Hard to say where this myth originated, but itis true that only 10% of the brain’s cells consist ofneurons, the ones that carry the signals involved in everything from thinking to remembering to moving your body.

Neurons don’t touch directly. Instead, there are spaces, orsynapses, between them. To pass a signal from one neuron to the next, the sending cell releases substances calledneurotransmitters into the synapse, which are then taken up by the receiving neuron.

What about the other 90% of the brain’s cells? Those are glial cells, orglia.

There are several types of glia, which are best known for such housekeeping duties as feeding neurons and cleaning up synapses. But scientists are just starting to study other glial functions: For example, evidence suggests that glia actually help form new synapses when the brain is injured.

How Are Memories Formed?

Answer: Neurons connect together

Neurons aren’t passive; they can actively form connections with one another. It’s this connectivity that allows you to create memories.

Let’s say you enjoy a wonderful day at the beach. Your brain will take those sensory inputs—the sight of the waves, the feel of the wind, the sound of the ocean—and a specific set of neurons will activate, forming a connection that encodes those inputs into a memory. (As neuroscientists commonly put it, “Cells that fire together wire together.”)

Thing is, your brain is constantly being bombarded with inputs—it would quickly run out of space if you remembered them all. So the brain forgets, and that sometimes includes memories you had wanted to retain.

Forgetting can also occur if a memory isn’t recalled for a long time; eventually the brain discards it. This explains, for instance, why you can remember your own phone number but not a number you don’t call on a regular basis.

What’s more, a recent study found that adult brains contain “silent synapses,” or immature connections once thought only to exist in childhood. These silent synapses may account for how adults can continue forming memories without having to disturb existing connections.

True or False: The Adult Brain Can’t Rewire Itself.

Answer: False (at least partially)

It’s no surprise to learn that the human brain will grow three times in size during the first year of a baby’s life. After all, brain development is one of infancy’s chief concerns.

And for years, scientists believed that childhood was the only time the brain could develop. The adult brain was thought to have no capacity for repair or additional growth.

Now we know that adult brains can still experienceneuroplasticity, or the ability to change in response to a changing environment. In one study, for example, adult musicians were found to have more neurons than people who didn’t play music.

However, neuroplasticity does have its limitations. This explains why people who have strokes don’t always regain full function, depending on such factors as how much damage occurred and how soon treatment was started after symptoms began.

How Much of the Body’s Energy Is Used By the Brain?

Answer: About 20%

Your brain is an energy hog, soaking up about 20% of your body’s energy supply while making up only 2% of your bodyweight. This enables the brain to produce enough power to light a 25-watt bulb; in fact, the brain is the warmest part of your body (2.5° Celsius warmer than your core temperature).

This explains why the brain gets between 20% and 25% of the body’s blood supply

True or False: Blueberries Are Good for Your Brain.

Answer: True

The blueberry has a super-healthy reputation…and part of that lies in this small fruit’s oversized effects on the brain.

“Blueberries and other deeply colored berries deliveranthocyanins, a group of plant compounds with antioxidant effects,” says nutrition consultant Kerri-Ann Jennings, RD. “Some of the antioxidants in blueberries have been found to accumulate in the brain and help improve communication between brain cells.”†The information provided is not an endorsement of any product, and is intended for educational purposes only. NaturesPlus does not provide medical advice and does not offer diagnosis of any conditions. Current research on this topic is not conclusive and further research may be needed in order to prove the benefits described. The conditions and symptoms described may be indicative of serious health problems, and therefore should be brought to the attention of a qualified healthcare practitioner.

Evidence also suggests that the compounds in berries help the brain maintain plasticity, making it easier to learn and retain new information.†The information provided is not an endorsement of any product, and is intended for educational purposes only. NaturesPlus does not provide medical advice and does not offer diagnosis of any conditions. Current research on this topic is not conclusive and further research may be needed in order to prove the benefits described. The conditions and symptoms described may be indicative of serious health problems, and therefore should be brought to the attention of a qualified healthcare practitioner. (In addition to blueberries, you should include blackberries, raspberries and strawberries in your diet.)

How about eggs paired with a cup of blueberries in the morning? Eggs contain vitamins B6 and B12 as well as folic acid, all of which support brain health.*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. They also supply a B-related nutrient called choline that your body uses to createacetylcholine, a brain chemical which helps regulate memory and mood.†The information provided is not an endorsement of any product, and is intended for educational purposes only. NaturesPlus does not provide medical advice and does not offer diagnosis of any conditions. Current research on this topic is not conclusive and further research may be needed in order to prove the benefits described. The conditions and symptoms described may be indicative of serious health problems, and therefore should be brought to the attention of a qualified healthcare practitioner.

How Does Exercise Aid the Brain?

Answer: It improves brain circulation and brain function…and even changes brain structure

You probably knew that exercise helps strengthen your body…but did you know it helps build a better brain?

Scientists have found is that exercise influences the brain’s actual structure as well as how it functions; how well blood circulates within the brain is affected as well.†The information provided is not an endorsement of any product, and is intended for educational purposes only. NaturesPlus does not provide medical advice and does not offer diagnosis of any conditions. Current research on this topic is not conclusive and further research may be needed in order to prove the benefits described. The conditions and symptoms described may be indicative of serious health problems, and therefore should be brought to the attention of a qualified healthcare practitioner.

One of exercise’s most profound effects? It helps make new connections between different regions of the brain and supports the growth of new brain cells, or neurons. In fact, exercise has been shown to prod growth of thehippocampus—a part of the brain critical to memory formation—in older adults.†The information provided is not an endorsement of any product, and is intended for educational purposes only. NaturesPlus does not provide medical advice and does not offer diagnosis of any conditions. Current research on this topic is not conclusive and further research may be needed in order to prove the benefits described. The conditions and symptoms described may be indicative of serious health problems, and therefore should be brought to the attention of a qualified healthcare practitioner.

In terms of boosting brainpower, “it’s a very profound effect,” says Florida Atlantic University’s Henriette van Praag, PhD.

In studies of people, van Praag says, regular exercise has improved learning and memory. For example, researchers writing in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease found that older adults with memory problems saw improvements after a year of aerobic workouts. Another study found that sedentary women who took up high-intensity interval exercise experienced improved brain function.†The information provided is not an endorsement of any product, and is intended for educational purposes only. NaturesPlus does not provide medical advice and does not offer diagnosis of any conditions. Current research on this topic is not conclusive and further research may be needed in order to prove the benefits described. The conditions and symptoms described may be indicative of serious health problems, and therefore should be brought to the attention of a qualified healthcare practitioner.

True or False: Spending Time in Nature Helps Your Brain.

Answer: True

Is there a park or forest near you?

Consider taking a walk there: Research indicates that spending time in natural settings helps ease brain fatigue while bolstering concentration. Other studies have found that time spent in nature helps lower blood pressure and levels ofcortisol, the stress hormone…actions that aid the brain.†The information provided is not an endorsement of any product, and is intended for educational purposes only. NaturesPlus does not provide medical advice and does not offer diagnosis of any conditions. Current research on this topic is not conclusive and further research may be needed in order to prove the benefits described. The conditions and symptoms described may be indicative of serious health problems, and therefore should be brought to the attention of a qualified healthcare practitioner.

The forest “is a place to slow down, relax the mind, release tension and awaken your senses to the natural beauty around you,” explains Ben Page, a trainer with the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy. “We spend most of our lives so stressed out. Escaping that for a couple of hours can feel so good.”

Is It Possible to Spend Too Much Time on Your Cellphone?

Answer: Yes

Keeping your phone near you at all times reduces your brainpower, according to research from the University of Texas at Austin.

Experiments with 800 smartphone users showed the brain’s ability to process and complete tasks was compromised when the person’s phone was merely in the room with them.†The information provided is not an endorsement of any product, and is intended for educational purposes only. NaturesPlus does not provide medical advice and does not offer diagnosis of any conditions. Current research on this topic is not conclusive and further research may be needed in order to prove the benefits described. The conditions and symptoms described may be indicative of serious health problems, and therefore should be brought to the attention of a qualified healthcare practitioner. 

Interestingly, the phone’s distraction was not due to notifications popping up on the device. The person’s ability to focus was reduced even when the smartphone was turned off, and whether it was lying face up or face down on a desk. It turned out that any time a phone was within easy reach, part of the person’s brain was actively working to not pick up the phone.

While it may be a challenge if you’re accustomed to checking it many times throughout the day, taking a vacation from your phone by placing it in another room outside of your work space may help boost your thinking skills.

True or False: There Is Nothing You Can Do to Reduce Your Risk of Developing Dementia.

Answer: False

Yes, it is normal to experience some disruptions in cognition and memory as you get older, mostly of the where-are-my-keys variety. But no, “dementia is not a normal or inevitable part of typical brain aging,” according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

To reduce your dementia risk:

• Control hypertension and diabetes. High blood pressure, defined as anything over 120/80 mmHg, and high blood sugar, 126 mg/dL or higher, are not only bad for your cardiovascular system but also increase your dementia risk. 
• Reach and maintain a healthy weight.Obesity not only increases your chances of developing both hypertension and diabetes, but it also raises your dementia risk even if you don’t have either of those conditions.
• Exercise on a regular basis. According to Piedmont Healthcare in Georgia, “Research has shown women who are highly physically fit are 90% less likely to develop dementia than women who are moderately physically fit.”
• Don’t smoke (or vape). Smoking is a known precursor to cognition problems (as is excessive alcohol use), and now studies indicate that vaping isn’t good for your brain either.†The information provided is not an endorsement of any product, and is intended for educational purposes only. NaturesPlus does not provide medical advice and does not offer diagnosis of any conditions. Current research on this topic is not conclusive and further research may be needed in order to prove the benefits described. The conditions and symptoms described may be indicative of serious health problems, and therefore should be brought to the attention of a qualified healthcare practitioner.
• Maintain a strong social circle. According to studies at Rush University in Chicago, people with strong friendships are not only less likely to develop Alzheimer’s but also tend to have better cognitive function even if they do suffer from AD.†The information provided is not an endorsement of any product, and is intended for educational purposes only. NaturesPlus does not provide medical advice and does not offer diagnosis of any conditions. Current research on this topic is not conclusive and further research may be needed in order to prove the benefits described. The conditions and symptoms described may be indicative of serious health problems, and therefore should be brought to the attention of a qualified healthcare practitioner.
• Seek help for depression. One thing being social does is help you stave off depression, which has been linked to dementia. 
• Correct hearing loss. Studies have shown a link between losing your ability to hear and your risk of developing dementia, so have your hearing tested regularly and use aids if needed.†The information provided is not an endorsement of any product, and is intended for educational purposes only. NaturesPlus does not provide medical advice and does not offer diagnosis of any conditions. Current research on this topic is not conclusive and further research may be needed in order to prove the benefits described. The conditions and symptoms described may be indicative of serious health problems, and therefore should be brought to the attention of a qualified healthcare practitioner.

†The information provided is not an endorsement of any product, and is intended for educational purposes only. NaturesPlus does not provide medical advice and does not offer diagnosis of any conditions. Current research on this topic is not conclusive and further research may be needed in order to prove the benefits described. The conditions and symptoms described may be indicative of serious health problems, and therefore should be brought to the attention of a qualified healthcare practitioner.The information provided is not an endorsement of any product, and is intended for educational purposes only. NaturesPlus does not provide medical advice and does not offer diagnosis of any conditions. Current research on this topic is not conclusive and further research may be needed in order to prove the benefits described.

The conditions and symptoms described may be indicative of serious health problems, and therefore should be brought to the attention of a qualified healthcare practitioner.