by admin | Jun 4, 2022 | Mind
How Have Our Brains Changed With Time
The Evolutionary Events That Made Us So Advanced We have come a long way since the first primates walked the earth. The physical changes we as a species have been through have made our brains more powerful, allowing for the development of the modern world to what we currently know it as.
Although there have always been multiple speculations about how and why our brains evolved, some theories are now supported by physical evidence, thanks to copious amounts of research and hard work. With the help of new technology and diligent effort, scientists have a clearer idea of both how our brains have changed and why.
In this article, we are sharing the theories that are backed with physical evidence and the ideas based on them.
The Big Shift
If you compare the size of our brains to that of primates 2 million years ago, the shift is astronomical. The brains of Homo Sapiens are three times bigger than those of our predecessors, which is what allowed for future evolution to happen the way it did. However, one thing that is even more important than size is that our brains are more complex than those of other primates.
We are now sure of this fact mainly thanks to the research of Suzana Herculano-Houzel, who studies the number of neurons relative to the size of the brain. She found out that not only do we have more brain cells, but they are also distributed in a very efficient way.
If we compare our brains to those of elephants, for example, we can see that even though our brains are smaller and have fewer neurons, their placement and connections are what make us smarter than the other species in question. From the 86 billion neurons humans have in total, 16 billion are located in our cerebral cortex, which deals with tasks such as self-awareness, language, and problem-solving.
Comparing these numbers to elephants, who have 251 billion neurons total out of which only 5.6 are located in the cerebral cortex, it’s easy to see the difference. This and more similar examples explain why the complexity and design of the brain are so important.
How Did This Happen?
The first big change to occur was in the size of primate brains, and it was most likely due to social changes. Keep in mind this was far before we developed language – here we are talking about simple recognition of and reliance on each other. Psychologist Robin Dunbar explains this in a rather simple way – social relationships require more computing power than living alone.
Ever since apes started interacting with each other, their brains got exponentially bigger in order to manage this complex process. Not only that but the connections between the different parts of the brain themselves got stronger and started working more often. This led to the possibility to form abstract thought, which was a significant evolutionary step. From that point on, the development of tools was essential. The easier we managed to get food that had different nutrients, the bigger and more complex our brains got. And respectively, we started inventing even more complicated tools, which started a positive feedback loop.
The next big change was fire.
It not only allowed us to get better substance from our nutrients but lessened the amount of energy we needed to process our meals in general. All this in a sense “free” energy was likely used for further brain growth.
Language & Speaking
With all of these things in place, the stage was set for one of the most significant developments – language. Once early humans started speaking, it quickly became one of the most invaluable skills for survival. Organized hunts, better shelter, and stronger relationships skyrocketed evolution. Following this astounding development, we started our path through history the way we know it now. Our brains stopped growing in size about 200 000 years ago.
One of the main reasons behind this is likely the consumption of energy. Currently, our brains use roughly 20% of our fuel, which is a staggering amount relative to the % of our total weight that the brain represents. This is because of the complicated processes happening in the brain that we have learned to do simultaneously. Surprisingly though, in the last 10 000 years, an opposite trend can be seen.
The size of our brains seems to have shrunk by roughly 4% from that point in time till today. This is in no way alarming, and we have a very solid theory as to why this phenomenon is happening. Our brains now have better architecture than before, meaning they can do the same things while using a smaller surface. And if that’s not enough, our shift in lifestyle has improved our external conditions massively. These and other factors, like differences in nutrition, affect the sizes of our brains but definitely not their computing power.
Final Thoughts
Evolution is a tricky thing to understand. We can never be sure exactly why even major changes happened the way they did, but the theories we have now are based on some resounding evidence. Thanks to a multitude of hard work and dedication, we currently have some pretty stable assumptions as to why we evolved like this and how it happened.
We will surely come to some astounding conclusions in the future, which will lead us to a better understanding of ourselves. What is your favorite fact about the brain? Comment below!
by admin | Jun 4, 2022 | Mind
How Does Music Affect Our Brain
How Exactly Do We Appreciate This Wonderful Art Form Yeah. It was at one point, hundreds and thousands of years ago, that our species came to realize that EVERYTHING we touched makes a certain noise. Then, we came to find out that certain noises, in specific patterns, sounded well together. And well, we developed music for what it is now – Both a complex art form and a beautiful way of self-expression.
We have been making music for centuries, with our first instruments being basically leaves, sticks, and rocks that make weird sounds. (just what we were talking about above) As a matter of fact, the oldest instrument we have found is a bone flute, dated to be made about 40,000 years ago. Ever since then we have evolved to entire orchestras playing symphonies with more than 50 sounds at the same time in order to achieve a specific harmony.
We have all gotten goosebumps when listening to something we really like or had our mood change entirely because of a song. But how do these physiological responses happen, and what’s the exact effect music has on the human brain?
Let’s Find Out!
The Brainatomy Of Music
It turns out that music affects pretty much every part of the brain regardless of its size. Listening and making music has an impact on parts as big as the frontal lobe and as small as the amygdala, with each one being affected differently.
So let’s have a look!
The Frontal Lobe
The frontal lobe is the largest and most recently evolved part of the brain. This part of the brain is involved in many different processes, including but not limited to problem-solving, decision-making, judgment, and impulse control. This part is essential for humans, and by listening to music, we can enhance its overall functions.
The Temporal Lobe
You know that feeling when you are listening to an entirely new song, and suddenly you think to yourself, “Damn, I really understand this guy!” Well, the temporal lobe is where this sense of understanding happens. Generally speaking, the left side is responsible for the words while the right is for the musical notes.
Pretty cool, huh?
The Occipital Lobe
The Occipital Lobe is the part of your brain in charge of interpreting what you see. This part of the brain plays a vital role in interacting with our environment because vision is often our dominant sense, especially for tasks requiring complex coordination or fine motor skills.
Though this part of our brain is usually responsible for visual understanding, the above-said may explain why the occipital love is active in professional musicians, suggesting that they picture music more than regular listeners.
The Cerebellum
This part of the brain is where our motor functions are stored! Isn’t it quite fascinating? We store our knowledge regarding playing an instrument! This is what people refer to as “muscle memory” – You ask someone how they played that complex lick, and their response is, “I don’t know, man, ask my fingers!”
What’s even more fascinating is that even people with Alzheimer’s can play the instruments they’ve learned as children.
Nucleus Accumbens
The nucleus Accumbens is a part of the brain that plays an essential role in reward-seeking behavior. It might be called the “pleasure center” of the brain because it helps control how much pleasure or joy people derive from eating, drinking, and other activities, including music! And let’s be frank – we’ve all heard that music is a drug.
Well, truth be told – it actually is! And this part of our brain processes substances such as dopamine, released when listening to or making music.
The Amygdala
The amygdala is the part of the brain that plays a fundamental role in regulating your fear and stress response. When something scares you, it activates the amygdala and the fight or flight response. The amygdala has been found to be more active in highly anxious people than those who are not, but also… People who really enjoy music!
Though responsible for fear, this part of the brain is also activated with music – this is how we get goosebumps when listening to specific music. Interesting, eh?
So Far, You’ve Learned.
Alright, that’s some pretty cool information so far, right? These six areas of the brain are most impacted by music – Whether we create or just listen to it. However, there are other areas of the brain that, too, reap some benefits from the fine composition of well-chosen notes, such as:
- The hippocampus – The seat of neurogenesis and memory creation!
- The Hypothalamus – The control center of bodily functions (yeah, this is a part of the reason why music can make you calm)
- Corpus Callosum – This enables the connection between the left and right sides of the brain, thus being one of the reasons why music unlocks creativity!
Besides the activation and stimulation of certain parts of the brain, though, there are some other things going on behind the scenes.
Let’s have a look!
Chemicals And Reactions
Many more studies regarding music prove that listening to it and producing it brings positive results. It turns out that music can both make specific structures inside the brain more intricate and at the same time relax your body. Just listening to music reduces your cortisol levels (the primary stress hormone) and increases dopamine production (happy hormones, anyone?).
Music also affects oxytocin, which is released when forming trustworthy bonds between people. Going to a music lesson is also good for your body in many aspects – it increases blood flow and encourages brain plasticity. Neurotransmitters are also positively changed when listening to music which can be proven in patients with Alzheimer’s or Schizophrenia.
All in all, it is for sure that music has not just one benefit for the overall wellbeing of our species! Let’s collectively send gratitude to the first ancestor of ours that decided to bang a stick against a rock, rhythmically.
Final Notes
We have strived to achieve great technical and artistic heights in music because it’s both challenging and complex (working with the logical way of thinking) and emotional and expressive (helping our creativity output).
The way that the brains of musicians and listeners differ proves that music does indeed have a physical manifestation and can optimize our brain functions in more ways than one.
With that in mind, we strongly encourage you to play your favorite tracks and enjoy the genius behind them while also knowing that you’re doing something good for yourself.
So go ahead, listen to your favorite artist, focus on the present moment with them in your headphones and stay brain-healthy!
by admin | Jun 4, 2022 | Mind
THE GROWTH MINDSET VS THE FIXED MINDSET
The difference between an individual with a growth mindset and a fixed mindset is like the sky and the earth. When it comes to the one with a growth mindset, he believes knowledge and creativity are traits that can be fully fledged over time. Folks with this type of mentality constantly put initiative and take action in the quest to develop their intellect and skills.
On the other hand, a fixed-minded individual skives obstacles, give up easily and is intimidated or chickened out by seeing other people’s excellent performance. This is because a fixed mentality views intellect and creativity as something that “is,” rather than something that can be altered for the better.
GROWTH MINDSET
BENEFITS
According to scientific research, a growth mentality is linked to motivation and overall success. For instance, teaching growth mentality to junior high school students resulted in improved enthusiasm and academic achievement, according to another report.
A growth mentality was found to be particularly helpful for students studying science and mathematics, according to the researchers. Other crucial benefits include reduction of burnouts, health issues such as stress and anxiety are reduced, and behavioral issues that are limited if not avoided overall.
WAYS TO IMPROVE
According to research, the brain may form new associations, expand old ones, and increase the pace at which pulses are transmitted. These findings show that anyone with a fixed mentality will gradually shift to a growth mindset if it’s something they’re committed to.
Some of the approaches to cultivate a growth mindset include believing you can potentially rewire your brain to boost your IQ, pushing out of your comfort zone, seeking new experiences, accepting failure as part of success, and getting rid of the growth mindset.
FIXED MINDSET
DISADVANTAGES
A fixed mind approach prevents you from learning new skills, experimenting with new ideas, formulating new tactics, and, most importantly, thinking big. It ties you down in fear and doubts that can derail you from taking action.
In case you find yourself saying, “I’m just not good at it.” And, “Even if I tried, I couldn’t improve,” take a pause then rephrase your self-dialogue to something more optimistic.
I know, it’s scary and seemingly impossible but you can do it. It’s something most successful people have had to overcome and you can do it as well.
CONCLUSION
We often exaggerate the importance of a particular event while underestimating the importance of making better everyday decisions such as running 5 days per week.
We believe that obtaining “that internship,” being published in “that media channel,” or losing “those 30 pounds” would allow us to become the individual we want. We fall prey to a predetermined mentality and assume that we are determined by the outcome.
In terms of behavior adjustment, building a better brand, rather than worrying about outcomes like your success or presentation, is the first step toward long-term improvement.
For a quick recap, it’s possible to shift from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset. For a comprehensive guide, simply click here and start your growth-mindset journey.
by admin | Jun 4, 2022 | Mind
Fun Facts About The Brain
Being one of the most complex organs of the human body, the brain’s information we have is far less than the data we don’t possess. The anatomy and functions, while being heavily unknown as of now, are incredibly unique and fascinating.
The human brain always has shocking revelations and surprises for biologists and scientists, so here are some fun facts about the brain, which might leave a jaw-dropping impression on you as well!
15 Fun Facts About the Brain
- Weighing three pounds, the majority portion of the brain is fat (about 60%), making it the fattest organ in the body. With a firm yet jelly-like texture, it makes up about 2% of the body weight. Despite weighing so little in comparison, it does take up the most energy in the body, with almost 20 to 25% of the blood going straight to this organ.
- Sweat can end up in the shrinkage of the brain. It is because the brain is primarily composed of water, and dehydration will make it shrink. But how much exactly? Well, a solid 90 minutes of continuous sweating shrinks your brain to the same size as it would after a year of aging. However, this shrinking is temporary, and the brain regains its size after getting the lost fluids.
- You are seldom “thoughtless.” The brain typically creates 48.6 thoughts every minute. And the part of the brain responsible for daydreaming (the default mode network – DNM) remains primarily active. Therefore, daydreaming is way more common than you can imagine.
- Your brain remains unformed till you’re 25 years old. It develops from back to front, and the structure working on reasoning, the frontal lobe, etc., remains underdeveloped till that age.
- Your brain can store a significant amount of information and has unlimited capacity.
- We don’t remember things well when we’re older, mainly because of the brain’s inadequacy to clear out and filter the previous information to sort out the new data. However, we might end up remembering what we seem to have “forgotten” from a long time ago.
- The brain can communicate information fast. And by fast, according to research, we mean an impressive speed of 268 miles per hour, which is much better than the best computer humanity could create.
- The brain doesn’t die immediately. If the blood supply is cut off, it will take 8 to 10 seconds before it starts fading out. By stopping oxygen, it can last up to the next 5 or 6 minutes at most.
- The brain is primarily water (almost 2%). Therefore, as little as 2% of dehydration will affect your cognition drastically.
- We have all heard the myth that you only use 10% of your brain. It’s wrong. You use all of your brain in every single task you do, even sleeping.
- Well, the organ between your ears can light a bulb as well. Thanks to the 23 watts of power our brain generates.
- Intelligence isn’t a work of sizes. A bigger brain doesn’t make a more intelligent person. Men, generally, have larger brains, but the size of the hippocampus is more significant in women.
- Blood and oxygen are the fuels of the brain. The harder you work it out, the greater it will consume. And the consumption can increase up to 50%.
- Well, none of us can say we control our minds. Because, mostly, we don’t. Most of our decisions do not even occur in the conscious part of the mind (which makes about 5% percent of the total brain).
- You have two brains, one in your head and the other in your intestine, both containing neurons.
Conclusion
Apart from being difficult to understand, our brain has the most impressive functions and structures, etc.
Our fun facts about the brain will definitely provide you with an insight into how your brain rolls and help debunk some of the prevailing myths about the organ.
While these facts may sound surprising, there are many more still unknown to humanity, so…
Stay curious!
Resources
by admin | Jun 4, 2022 | Mind
Fulfilling Your True Potential
Living up to your true potential provides a distinct sense of fulfillment, and according to Aristotle in his book The Nicomachean Ethics, we all have the potential for greatness. Realizing that potential, he believes, is the key to living a truly happy and fulfilling life, even in your older years.
Nevertheless, fulfilling your true potential and being a high-performer is a matter of developing certain skills and mental traits. So without further ado, let’s have a look at what those traits and skills actually are, shall we?!
Self Awareness
If you want to know what your true potential hides and how to get there, you must feel at ease with who and what you are. Don’t pretend to be someone you’re not and don’t try to change yourself solely because others tell you to.
Instead, understand who you are and what you want to be… And if you don’t know, you should find out by doing things and analyzing yourself and how you feel doing them… This is the essence of self-awareness! Read, write, think, and speak. That is self-awareness: simply being aware of your thoughts and feelings. When you are self-aware, you automatically learn more about yourself. It all starts with awareness. No awareness – No knowledge!
Perseverance
Perseverance is inferred from failing and rising again. You cannot become resilient if you do not commit mistakes. Sometimes you work and you get nothing in return. For years, you work but do not see any outcomes. You get no acknowledgment, no money, and no rewards. But eventually, you start seeing the results you have long been waiting for. You get better at your job and get more confidence. You even start earning more. If this sounds familiar, consider this – if you didn’t persevere, you would not get any of those things.
Writing
We’ve all felt a need to vent and express ourselves in an attempt to get our point across. Writing, on the other hand, can assist you in actually achieving this. When you write things down, you become more conscious of your choice of words. This implies that your writing will be more insightful, concise, and elegant than your speech. Improved writing leads to improved thinking. Better thinking leads to improved communication.
Better communication translates to improved career outcomes. So write, write, write! Whether that means writing your goals and plans down, or simply doing creative writing.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness is more about being a mindful person than it is about meditation, yoga, or Buddhism. A mindful person is in command of their emotions and thoughts. He/she is as solid as a rock. Someone on whom others can rely. However, achieving that inner peace takes a lot of practice. You might think that you will never be able to fully master this skill. You can, however, improve your control over your thoughts by practicing.
The essence of the mindfulness practice lies in being able to recognize recurring patterns and taking conscious decisions at the moment of their occurrence, that is contrary to that automatic reaction.
Productivity
It is important to understand that the more present you are, the more desire you have for improving your life. And you can improve your life by working on the things you like. Thinking about achieving your goals will not do anything real for you. Evolve into a person who is productive every day. Don’t continue to waste it by watching TV, hanging out with the wrong people, or engaging in any other mindless, mundane activities.
Make the most of your time.
Leadership
Leadership is all about motivating people and helping them reach their full potential. This can be done by teaching others to have autonomy and focusing on themselves. When you fix your own problems and become a strong person you can rely on, you help others more. When you are able to do this, you inspire others to do the same. It is only the selfish and narcissistic people who want to make people dependent on them…
Leaders believe otherwise!
Final Thoughts
If you’ve started doing something, do it to the best of your ability or don’t do it at all. That is the quickest way to realize your full potential and it’s also the most difficult. That, however, should come as no surprise to you. If you don’t succeed the first time, learn from your mistakes and remember Henry Ford’s words: “Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.” – Henry Ford
by admin | Jun 4, 2022 | Mind
Fixed VS Growth Mindset
Your Mindset And Its Impact On You
We all intuitively recognize the importance of mindset. All of us can pinpoint certain moments or times in our lives where we repeat to ourselves that we have to believe that things can happen for us. Be it in life, relationships, business, and so on.
Mindset has been and is a very abused form of self-help and maybe the first frontier of getting things to happen. After all, mindset and believing that it can happen is the first step to ‘’it’’ happening. We all know people that seem to cruise through life purely on a base of self-confidence and belief in themselves and their skills.
Sometimes, we even find some people relying solely on belief and confidence and lacking in ability, but somehow still achieving results even on naked self-confidence. This speaks volumes about how important mindset truly is. There’s a tendency to go against the grain in terms of achieving unique results, and you might find it cliché and rather low-effort to be focusing on mindset.
After all, believing in yourself is a truism heavily regurgitated in media and self-help circles, so a lot of us have the inclination to be skeptical of a positive mindset in the efforts to be realists. However, it’s important to note all the instances belief and mindset were and are truly powerful factors of making changes and achieving results, or in some cases, not achieving anything.
Wars, religions, laws, and countries were all built and fought for thanks to a series of well-thought-out beliefs. No matter how overused, mindset is truly important for your life and the results you want to achieve. Recent research has recognized two distinct mindsets when it comes to people and has linked both mindsets to levels of achievement.
So, what are they?
The Fixed Mindset
Having a fixed mindset is a cocktail of different beliefs and biases, all pointing to a limited set of abilities. The fixed mindset is believing that all of our skills and talents are pre-determined and that no matter what you do, you’re limited. For example, a fixed mindset is believing you’re bad at math and never trying to see if you could improve simply because your belief is enough to negate you from trying harder.
The fixed mindset has a permanent residence in the comfort zone. It knows what it can and can’t do and focuses on achievements in the areas that it’s good at. This type of mindset employs extreme reluctance towards change and towards trying new things that may result in failure. If you recognize yourself having this mindset, try to see why you think the way you do and if this has something to do with the way you were raised or if someone told you what you are and what you’re not and you took it to heart.
If you find this has been your mindset and you want to change, there’s an alternative.
The Growth Mindset
The growth mindset is being passionate about learning. This comes with the acceptance of making a lot of mistakes. Mistakes, after all are data. People with the growth mindset use this data in order to become better. They’re not worried about immediate validation and results. Focused on learning, people with the growth mindset seek constant improvement and challenges even if that results in failure.
They trust the process and don’t crumble when meeting with failure. Another key factor in the growth mindset is the belief in change and adaptability. It’s not that you’re bad at math, it’s that you’ve never tried hard enough. Growing is about making small steps, sometimes falling, sometimes stumbling, but persevering nonetheless.
Conclusion
We need to remember that there’s nothing wrong with the fixed mindset, and it doesn’t need to be antagonized. There’s nothing wrong with building on a few select areas of your life. There’s also the possibility to overextend yourself with the growth mindset and to set your sights too high. It’s important to employ the right balance and embrace finding balance. Being confident but not pigeonholing yourself inside a set of beliefs.
Humans are capable of a lot. If you decide to delve further into your own mindset, remember to first focus on identifying your own biases and which camp you belong to, try getting some feedback from peers in terms of your strengths and weaknesses. And most importantly, know that you can choose and change your mindset.
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