The brain is a very mysterious and fascinating organ of our body. It sends millions of commands to our body parts to get us through the day. Lots of studies have been conducted to try to understand its parts and functions and yet there is still a lot to find out. Therefore, many theories are being circulated about the brain, but not all of them are true. In this article, you will find 5 circulated myths about the brain and whether they are true or not.
1- MEN AND WOMEN HAVE DIFFERENT LEARNING ABILITIES
Of course, there are some differences between the brain of a man and the one of a woman, and the differences they have in physiology can be the result of differences in brain functions. However, there is no evidence or research that shows that the connections of the network of neurons differ by gender when learning a new skill.
2- OLD MEMORIES ARE PRECISE AND ACCURATE
You might find yourself telling the events of memory and remembering very vividly its details. However, with time memories decay and people tend to forget some major details, which our brain exchanges with other incorrect ones. The brain could feel that the incorrect details represent what actually happened no being aware that they are recreating a mixed up scene or memory in their minds, instead of remembering what really happened.
3- BRAIN SKILLS DOWNGRADE WITH AGE
It is true that young people have stronger cognitive skills than adults. For this reason, it is easier for children to learn a new language than for their grandparents. However, many other mental skills do improve with age. Older people are better with vocabulary and understanding complex linguistic distinctions. They are better in topics requiring social wisdom and at finding meaning in their lives as well as regulating emotions.
4- WE ONLY HAVE 5 SENSES
We have been thought since our childhood that we have 5 senses to feel the world around us. While these 5 are correct, they are not the only ones. Senses such as nociception (the sense of pain) and proprioception (the sense of how our bodies are positioned) are among a list of many senses that drive our brains. While this could be fascinating, humans are still behind when it comes to senses. In fact, many animals have some extraordinary sense that can help them stay safe and catch prey, such as sensing the warmth of nearby prey.
5- WE KNOW WHAT WILL MAKE US HAPPY.
Sometimes we think we have the answer to what will make us happy. A lot of people would say that money can bring more joy to their lives. However, while poor people are less happy than the middle class, it is found that the middle class and the rich people have an equal level of happiness. Our brains might think that leisure and solitude bring more happiness than they actually do, and they underestimate the power of social relationships. Furthermore, the things that we hate, do not make us as unhappy as we think. Think about Mondays, diseases and the death of a loved one and you could find yourself tearing up. Nevertheless, humans are resilient and the unhappiness caused by these issues won’t last as long as they think.
