One of the most important parts of our Initial Consultation, and subsequent sessions with our clients, is the explanation of how the brain works in relation to their issue; clients often comment on how enlightening it is to understand why they are feeling or behaving as they are. Nearly every client has shown an interest in understanding the brain, and, as I find neuroscience fascinating, I have researched some facts about our brains… 
- The average adult brain weighs about 3 pounds…60% of this dry weight is fat, which makes the brain the fattiest organ in the body
- The brain will grow three times it’s initial size during a child’s first year of age…at 2 years old it will be approximately 80% of the size of an adult brain. It will then continue to grow until they reach 18 years of age, and it will continue to mature up to the age of 25 years
- Everything we see, think and do is processed via neurons…which can transmit information up to a speed of 250 mph. The brain contains approximately 1 hundred billion neurons, and each neuron can transmit 1000 nerve impulses per second
- The brain can’t feel pain…it can interpret pain signals but it doesn’t feel pain
- The brain starts to lose some memory and cognitive skills once we reach our 20s…and it starts shrink once we reach middle age. It is the only organ in the body that undergoes changes up to this time, and it sees more changes than any other organ in the body.
- The brain uses 20% of the oxygen and blood in our body…it needs a constant supply of oxygen, and being deprived for as little as 5 minutes can cause brain cells to die, leading to brain damage
- When a limb has been amputated…the Central Nervous System, which includes the brain, can continue to feel the pain of the amputated limb. This is known as Phantom Limb Syndrome
- Alcohol affects the brain…in ways including slurred speech, blurred vision and unsteady balance. Prolonged alcohol intake can affect the brain permanently
- The brain continues to work while we are asleep…This is usually expressed through dreams and metaphors
- Approximately 75% of the brain is made up of water…it only takes about 2% hydration to affect attention, memory and cognitive skills
- 25% of the body’s cholesterol is located within the brain…brain cells need cholesterol, and deprivation will cause brain cells to die
- The average brain is believed to generate up to 50 thousand thoughts each day…and 70% of these thoughts are thought to be negative
- Men’s brains are generally 10% bigger than women’s brains…but the hippocampus (linked with memory and stored patterns of behaviour) is generally larger in women’s brains
- Human brains have got smaller over the last 10-20’000 years…the lost volume is equivalent to the size of a tennis ball
- Records of brain surgery date back to stone age times…the oldest known surgical procedure was “Trepanation” which involved using a sharp stone to drill into the skull. This may have been for magical or religious reasons, or may have been medical. This procedure is now known as a “Craniotomy”
- The visual areas of the brain are at the back…this is why you will see stars if you bang the back of your head!
- Exercise is good for the brain…it encourages production of neurotrophins, which leads to greater brain plasticity which promotes better memory and cognition
- Reading aloud uses different brain circuits to reading silently…when children first learn to read, they speak the words out loud. Reading aloud is more beneficial for a child’s brain development than reading silently
- Yawning cools down the brain…sleep deprivation raises the brain’s temperature. Rest and sleep is essential for the brain, particularly for memory retention. Sleep deprivation kills brain cells
- Brain activity can power a small light bulb…while awake, our brain generates about 12-25 watts of electricity, which is enough to power a small light bulb.
As we can see, the brain is a phenomenal feat of engineering. Research has shown that maintaining a healthy brain can lower the risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
So what can we do to improve our brain health?
- Get a good sleep routine. We should aim for 7-9 hours each night. This will help with improving brain function and memory
- Build up a a sweat. Regular physical activity can help improve flexibility, strength, balance, energy and mood
- Protect your head. Brain injuries can affect thought, memory, coordination, speech and emotions.
- Look after your health. Some medical conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease, can raise the risk of developing problems with thinking and memory
- Meet up with friends. Being social can help to fight depression and stress, both of which can worsen memory. Social isolation and loneliness have been linked to a higher risk of a decline in thinking skills and onset of Alzheimer’s
- A healthy diet can help to prevent or delay symptoms of dementia. Diet should include leafy greens and other vegetables, berries, nuts, whole grains, poultry and fish. Butter, cheese, red meat and sweets should be limited
- Work your brain with activities that engage your mind, such as crossword puzzles, reading, volunteering, learning a new skill or to play a musical instrument
- Restrict alcohol intake. Drinking too much increases risk of falls, can cause memory problems and can worsen diabetes and high blood pressure
- Drugs (both recreational and medical) can affect brain cell function. Read the labels carefully.
I hope you have found my article interesting. As a Solution-focused Hypnotherapist I can help with issues such as anxiety, sleep, hypertension, stress and depression. If you would like me to help, please contact me.
debbie@backontrackhypnotherapy.co.uk
07375 122742
Resource reference
Burket, J, 22 Facts about the Brain…World Brain Day, available at: https://www.dentinstitute.com/service
Simple Steps for Brain Health, available at: https://www.brain.health