CONNECT: February 21, 2014

CONNECT: Please Pass the Brain Fuel

Spoiler Summary - some of the latest science confirms what many of us already know - "what" you know is a direct function of "who" you know (and try to keep up with)

Ever wonder why the human brain is so wrinkled looking?  OK, me neither......but now that I mention it....why IS the brain all wrinkled up? Apparently this is a longstanding question that has stumped everyone from evolutionary biologists to neuroscientists. OK, that's not the real puzzle - they have a pretty strong clue that it's wrinkled because it doesn't fit inside the skull.  That it literally gets too big and starts to fold inward to save space and maximize surface area at around 6 months of gestation for important function-areas (you can read about it HERE if you're really bored).  It seems strange to me that such an important piece of the puzzle simply doesn't fit.

But why? One very interesting theory is of stress and growth - structural changes as humans became more sophisticated thinkers.....that, similar to muscles, when the brain was taxed and then well fueled, it grew....and grew....and grew (gives a whole new mental image to the term "muscle head" I guess).  But what kind of exercise could possibly get that result?  Was it related to use of tools by early-humans?  Or how about just a result of more widely available food? Both of these theories have been researched, however the most widely accepted theory centers around a different exercise. Know what it is?

It's one of the most difficult things we do every single day. It's something that can result in big errors when our brains our tired....something that has been at the root of many conflicts at both personal and global scales.....and something that takes a lot of practice to get skillful at.  The answer?  Communication with others using language.....the gauntlet that every parent throws down at their young child when they say "use your words."

Did you ever stop and think about how amazing this really is? In a split second your brain is able to take in tone of voice, word choice, body language and environmental cues and compare them to historical events and context to "figure out" exactly what a person means when they say something to you.....tougher than it seems.

Even more interesting, is that it's not only something we can do, it's something we seem to need for our health.  We learn the vast majority of what we know by watching, interpreting and imitating others, especially those we come into contact with regularly and lack of social contact has been linked to everything from poor brain development to mental illness.

75% of every healthcare dollar in America is spent on chronic disease......the vast majority of which are preventable......

So how can you impact the health of the world around you? Talk about it with your family.  Try something active with your kids or friends....keep growing your brain....and keep the conversation going.

Have a great weekend,

Mike E.