How the Brain Works

Have you ever wondered how we learn? Everything we know is stored in our brain -- one of the most important organs in our entire system. Without it, we wouldn't be able to survive, let alone think and write. Since the 1990s, researchers have begun to understand only a little bit abou the brain's potential. Yet, these discoveries are significant and important. We now know a bit about how our brain works. If we use it well, it can help us to improve ourselves. It will allow us to tap more of our almost unlimited potential. It is true to say that we have unlimited potential. After all, our brain contains around 100 billion neurons, or brain cells. Even if we were to lose a million neurons for every year we live, it would take several hundred years.

But the number of neurons is not as important as the connections between them. It is these connections that help us to create new behaviours and habits. when we leaen something new, new connections take place in our brain. For example, all of us know the way to our own schools. But if we moved to a new home, it would take us some time to get to our school. But over time, we get familiar with the new route. The brain operates much like this -- actions that you are familiar with can be carried out almost automatically, but things that you are not familiar with doing might feel strange unless you keep doing it over and over again. In a laboratory test on mice, scientists designed the rat cages for one group of mice to be complex, with many objects, toys and mazesthat the mice could explore and play with. On the other hand, another group of mice were only put inside a box that had nothing in it. Upon their death, the scientist did some research on the brains of these mice and discovered that those that had been stimulated by a more complex environment had brains that were better developed and heavier than compared with those in a plain box. In fact, studies have shown that mice that are brought up in stimulating environments appear "smarter" than other mice.

Many scientists believe that we only use a small portion of our brains. It is possible for us to start improving our brain potential. It is possible for us to start improving our brain potential. We need to develop better learning habits. Here are two simple suggestions. first, we can start to learn from our experiences. Many of us have learnt to ignore our past experiences. It is important for us to know how we feel, and learn to interpret our feelings positively, so that we can improve ourselves. Many people have interpreted their experiences negatively, and this prevents them from learning .

Second, we can start to learn in a way that our brain prefers. If we are studying for our exams, we could use colours, pictures and drawings to appeal to our sense of sight. We can also act out our subjects in a diferent, creative way to appeal to our sense of sound and feeling. The brain is truly a wonder. We can learn how to make a better use of our brain, so that we can improve ourselves not just in school, but in every aspect of our lives