• Question: how do our brains work?

    Asked by ellie science to Maheen, Deborah, Euan, Rob, Stu on 21 Jun 2016. This question was also asked by Science Genie, CRAZYscientistnaithan123.
    • Photo: Rob Stanley

      Rob Stanley answered on 21 Jun 2016:

      We have about 100 billion neurons in our brain. These are connected up in very complicated ways. When one neuron gets a signal (from your eye, touch, ear, etc.) it passes it to many others. The signal eventually passes to the place in the brain where it can be interpreted, and combined with other signals.

      We still don’t know how this leads to consciousness though!

    • Photo: Maheen Siddiqui

      Maheen Siddiqui answered on 21 Jun 2016:

      Hi ellie science, interesting question.

      In terms of how the structure of the brain forms and works, there are actually many theories around how the brain works. Nobody knows for sure how the architecture of the brain forms. For example, how do different regions of the brain form? What forms first? How does each area know what its responsible for? How does one area connect to another or how does it know which area to connect with? These are all still an areas of debate and we don’t know for sure.

      But in terms of processing takes place… is just how Rob described. We have neurons in our brain (they are brain cells) and these are connected to different sensory cells for example sensory cells in your skin. When these sensory cells in your skin detect something (like its too hot) they fire a message (via a process called a synapse) to these neurons or brain cells. The brain cells are connected to other brain cells which process the message and then prompt us to take an action.

      For example if you have your hand on the stove, your brain gets the message through synapses and then causes a different part of your brain to move your hand from the stove! These messages travel extremely fast; the fastest travel at about 250 mph, faster than a Formula 1 racing car!

Comments