Your Brain Is Working Harder Than You Think

Hey, did you know your brain only makes up about two percent of your body weight but uses around twenty percent of your body’s energy?

I’m learning about this right now, and I honestly didn’t expect the brain to be this expensive to run.

Even when you’re sitting in a lecture looking like you’re doing absolutely nothing, your brain is incredibly busy. Neurons are constantly sending electrical signals, releasing chemicals, and communicating with each other.

The funny part is that most of that energy isn’t even going toward solving difficult problems. A lot of it is just keeping everything running so your brain is ready whenever you need it.

It also made me think about sleep differently. Before university I mostly thought sleep was just time when nothing happened. Turns out your brain is doing loads of work while you’re asleep, especially helping organize and strengthen memories from the day.

As someone who’s pretty into fitness, I also found it interesting that exercise helps the brain too. Better cardiovascular fitness means better blood flow, which means your brain gets more of the oxygen and nutrients it needs. So going for a run or lifting weights isn’t just good for your body. It’s probably helping your brain as well.

Sadly, I don’t think studying burns enough calories to skip leg day.

I think understanding this connection between exercise, sleep, nutrition, and brain function is going to become more important over the next few years. It’s easy to think of them as separate things, but they’re all connected.

Just thought I’d share because I definitely have a lot more respect for what’s going on inside my head while I’m trying to survive second year neuroscience.