Most of us never think twice about how our brains function. Walking the dog, eating dinner, working out at the gym – as long as these activities go smoothly and according to plan, we never really think about the functions of the brain that cause them to happen at all. But it really is worth looking at some of the awesome power of the brain. You can try brain teasers and other brain training methods to keep you sharp, but let’s look at ten amazing things your amazing brain can do.
- Working Memory. We all remember math class, whether we loved it or hated it. And you most assuredly are familiar with working out a problem in your head. When your brain grasps numerous pieces of data and manipulates them to solve that problem, you are using a mental aptitude known as “working memory.” Working memory is our facility to not only hold on to the formula for solving the problem (remembering something you already knew), but to interpret and apply the information in “real time” to solve the problem by using that remembered formula. Thus, working memory is a critical ingredient in learning and decision making.
- Regulate Emotions. We’ve all been there: our boss has put together a team of colleagues to work on a project, and one person on the team seems to be doing nothing but taking pleasure in shooting down every one of your ideas, making you more and angry. Are you going to unleash the full power of your wrath upon this person? No. Hopefully the “brain muscle” that is responsible for what is known as “emotional self-regulation” has been exercised enough to keep you from venting in public and is ready to be flexed when needed.
- Interpret Sensory Information. Can you differentiate between hot tea and iced tea? When you smell a sweet, smoky, buttery smell, do you interpret it as chocolate? If you said yes, it is because your brain is able to take in and interpret sensory input.
- Theory of Mind. Think about how you would feel if a friend suddenly announced her engagement. You would probably be overjoyed and, not only that, you would quite likely be able to imagine just what she was thinking when her fiancée popped the question. This is known as “theory of mind,” and it indicates that you have intuition into other’s lives and emotions.
- Sequencing. Think about a project you need to complete, either for work or for your own enjoyment. Before beginning the project, you will likely want to set out a series of steps you will need to take in order to reach completion. This ability of the brain to put steps in order, from most to least important or from first to last, is known as “sequencing.”
- Inhibition. Ever been on a diet? Have you stopped yourself from eating an ice cream sundae? How? Actually, your amazing brain did it for you, using a process known as “inhibition.” In the simplest terms, inhibition can be seen as the opposite of spontaneity, the brain’s ability to keep us from doing things that would be harmful, or even embarrassing, to us.
- Attention. If you’ve ever been on a crowded bus, with people carrying on conversations, music playing, traffic blaring, yet have been able to block all of that out and focus on the novel you are reading, you have been using the brain function known as “attention.” This is the ability to focus the mind on a single thought, action or endeavor.
- Working Memory vs. Long-Term Memory. When you recall an address you have just been given, and you can recall a vacation you spent in Europe ten years ago, you are not just using memory, you are using two different types of memory. Working memory is short-term memory, which is akin to a temporary storage bin that will be emptied and forgotten in a short while. Long-term memory, on the other hand, is practically limitless.
- Motor Function. When we move our bodies in any way, be it walking down the road, shaking a hand, or typing, we are using the motor function of our brains. This is the ability of our brain to move our body and for our bodies to be able to manipulate objects.
- Visual and Spatial Processing. When you see a red red octagon on a pole on the corner, you likely recognize it as a Stop sign. This is because you are using your brain’s visual processing. Experiencing the sign as three-dimensional is your brain using its spatial processing.
*Photos courtesy of hubblesite.org