The Brain More Than a Computer

ANOTHER superb organ is the human brain. It,“play back” these sights and sounds, along
together with the rest of the nervous system, iswith thoughts and other sensations that no
often compared to man-made computers. Of course,man-made machine can record.
computers are constructed by humans and operateHuman memory is still a mystery. It has something to
according to step-by-step instructions predetermineddo with the way neurons connect. “The average
by human programmers. Yet, many people believebrain cell,” explains Karl Sabbagh in his book The
that no intelligence was responsible forLiving Body, “links up with about 60,000 others;
“wiring” and “programming” theindeed some cells have links with up to a quarter of a
human brain.million others. . . . The human brain could hold at
Although extremely fast, computers handle only oneleast 1000 times as much information in the
piece of information at a time, whereas the humanpathways connecting its nerve cells as is contained in
nervous system processes millions of pieces ofthe largest encyclopedia say 20 or 30 big
information simultaneously. For example, during a strollvolumes.”
in the springtime, you can enjoy the beautifulBut how does one neuron pass information to
scenery, listen to the song of birds, and smell theanother? Creatures with a simple nervous system
flowers. All these pleasant sensations are transmittedhave many nerve cells that are joined together. In
simultaneously to your brain. At the same time,such a case, an electrical impulse crosses the bridge
streams of information flow from the sensefrom one neuron to the next. The crossing is called
receptors in your limbs, informing your brain of thean electrical synapse. It is fast and simple.
moment-to-moment position of each leg and theStrange as it may seem, most neurons in the human
state of each muscle. Obstacles in the footpathbody pass messages via a chemical synapse. This
ahead are noticed by your eyes. On the basis of allslower, more complex method can be illustrated by a
this information, your brain ensures that each step istrain that reaches a river without a bridge and has to
taken smoothly.be ferried across. When an electrical impulse reaches
Meanwhile, the lower regions of your brain governa chemical synapse, it has to stop because a gap
your heartbeat, breathing, and other vital functions.separates the two neurons. Here the signal is
But your brain handles much more. As you walk, you“ferried” across by the transfer of chemicals.
can sing, talk, compare present scenes with pastWhy this complex electro-chemical method of passing
scenes, or make plans for the future.nerve impulses?
“The brain,” concludes The Body Book,Scientists see many advantages in the chemical
“is much more than a computer. No computersynapse. It ensures that messages pass one way.
can decide that it is bored or wasting its talents andAlso, it is described as plastic because its function or
should embark on a new way of life. The computerstructure can easily change. Here signals can be
cannot drastically alter its own program; before itmodified. Through use, some chemical synapses get
sets out in a new direction, a person with a brainstronger while others disappear because of disuse.
must reprogram it. . . . A computer cannot relax, or“Learning and memory could not develop in a
daydream, or laugh. It cannot become inspired ornervous system that had only electrical
creative. It cannot experience consciousness orsynapses,” states Richard Thompson in his book
perceive meaning. It cannot fall in love.”The Brain.
The Most Wonderful Brain of AllScience writer Smith explains in his book The Mind:
Animals such as elephants and some large sea“Neurons do not just fire and not fire . . . they
creatures have brains larger than that of a human,must be capable of passing on much more subtle
but in proportion to body size, the human brain is theinformation than yes or no. They are not just
largest of all. “The gorilla,” explains Richardhammers hitting the next nail, either more frequently
Thompson in his book The Brain, “is physicallyor less so. They are, to complete this analogy, a
larger than a human yet has a brain only one-fourthcarpenter’s kit, with screwdrivers, pliers, pincers,
the size of the human one.”mallets and hammers. . . . Each neural impulse is
The number of different pathways between neuronstransformed along the way, and nowhere else than
(nerve cells) in the human brain is astronomical. This isat the synapses.”
because neurons have so many interconnections; oneThe chemical synapse has a further advantage. It
neuron may connect up with over one hundredtakes less space than an electrical synapse, which
thousand others. “The figure of possibleexplains why the human brain has so many synapses.
connections within our modern brain is as good asThe journal Science gives a figure of
infinite,” states Anthony Smith in his book The100,000,000,000,000 equivalent to the number of
Mind. It is larger “than the total number of atomicstars in hundreds of Milky Way galaxies. “We are
particles that make up the known universe,” sayswhat we are,” adds neuroscientist Thompson,
neuroscientist Thompson.“because our brains are basically chemical
But there is something even more remarkable. It ismachines rather than electrical ones.”
the way this vast network of neurons has been 
connected that enables humans to think, speak,Why Your Brain Needs So Much Blood
listen, read, and write. And these things can be doneBEFORE diving into a swimming pool, perhaps you dip
in two or more languages. “Language is theyour toes into the water. If the water is cold, tiny
crucial difference between humans and animals,”cold receptors in your skin quickly respond. In less
states Karl Sabbagh in his book The Living Body.than a second, your brain registers the temperature.
Animal communication is simple by comparison. ThePain receptors can transmit information even more
difference, admits evolutionist Sabbagh, “is notquickly. Some nerve impulses reach speeds of 225
just a trivial improvement on other animals’miles [360 km] per hour comparable to running the
abilities to make noises it is the fundamental propertylength of a football field in one second.
that makes humans human, and it is reflected inHow, though, does the brain work out the intensity
major differences in brain structure.”of a sensation? One way is by the frequency with
The marvelous structure of the human brain haswhich a neuron fires; some fire a thousand or more
motivated many to make better use of its potentialtimes a second. The intense activity that takes place
by becoming skilled at some trade, learning to play aamong neurons in the brain would be impossible were
musical instrument, mastering another language, orit not for the work of pumps and powerhouses.
developing whatever talents add joy to life.Each time a neuron fires, atoms with an electrical
“When you learn a new skill,” write Drs. R.charge pour into the cell. If these sodium ions, as
and B. Bruun in their book The Human Body,they are called, are allowed to accumulate, the
“you are training your neurons to connect in aneuron will gradually lose its ability to fire. How is the
new way. . . . The more you use your brain, theproblem solved? “Every neuron,” explains
more efficient it will become.”science writer Anthony Smith in his book The Mind,
Made by Whom?“contains about a million pumps each one is a
Could something so highly organized and orderly likeslight bump on the cell membrane and every pump
the hand, the eye, and the brain have come aboutcan swap about 200 sodium ions for 130 potassium
by chance? If man is credited with inventing tools,ions every second.” Even when neurons rest, the
computers, and photographic film, surely someonepumps keep working. Why? To counteract the
should be honored for making the more versatileeffect of sodium ions that leak into the cell and
hand, eye, and brain. “O Jehovah,” the Biblepotassium ions that leak out.
psalmist said, “I shall laud you because in aThe activity of the pumps requires a constant supply
fear-inspiring way I am wonderfully made. Yourof energy. The energy comes from tiny
works are wonderful, as my soul is very wellmitochondria, or “powerhouses,” scattered
aware.” Psalm 139:1, 14.inside each cell. To produce energy, each
Many wonderful functions of the human body takepowerhouse needs oxygen and glucose supplied by
place without our conscious effort. Future post ofthe blood. No wonder your brain needs so much
this blog will discuss some of these amazingblood. “Although it constitutes only about 2
mechanisms, and also whether aging, sickness, andpercent of total body weight,” explains Richard
death can be conquered, so that we can enjoy lifeThompson in his book The Brain, it “receives 16
forever!percent of the blood supply . . . Brain tissue receives
Your Wonderful Neurons10 times as much blood as muscle tissue.”
A NEURON is a nerve cell with all its processes. YourThe next time you feel the temperature of water,
nervous system contains many types of neurons,be thankful for the trillions of pumps and
which total about 500 billion. Some are sensepowerhouses in your brain. And remember that all
receptors that send information from different partsthis activity is possible because of oxygen and
of the body to your brain. Neurons in the higherglucose transported by your blood.
region of your brain function like a video recorder.The human brain processes millions of bits of
They can permanently store information that comesinformation simultaneously.
from your eyes and ears. Years later you can