10 curious facts about neurons

The brain is the most perfect "computer" in the world. Each of our neurons processes 200 billion bits of information every second. But for them to work at that pace and with that perfection they need a suitable environment.

We explain how they work and how to take care of them!

1- 20,000 neurons are destroyed every day

Around one hundred billion neurons are what make up our brain. But it is not so important how many there are but how fast they are destroyed. And that data is also known: about 20,000 every day (One every 5 seconds!). It is true that others are also generated daily - about 1,400, but as you can see, the rate of destruction is much faster than the rate of creation. Now, you can make the communication of those that are more perfect (and supply the work of those that are no longer). How? Reading, meditating, doing mental accounts, with sudokus ...

2- Depression could be due to the fact that new "births" are not

One of the last suspicions generated when studying the neurons is that some types of depression could be due precisely to the fact that they do not create those 1,400 a day that we mentioned in the previous section. This data could be used to develop new treatments that would make more efficient the neurons that are or to propitiate, even, that they are born new, thus avoiding these psychic lows.

3- Stress makes them crazy

As we have already said, neurons are born every day. But ... Eye! Because if you live stressed, it will not do much good what those "baby" neurons do, since stress can generate changes in the brain and make them behave like "old neurons", even leading to mental illness. This has been discovered by researchers at the University of California (Berkeley). So, you know, make your neurons laugh every day so they stay young. By the way, you will live more relaxed.

4- You also have "mirror" neurons

They are cells of the brain that "invite" us to imitate behaviors that we see in other people. Certain postures or grimaces, a contagious laugh ... There are many situations that activate these neurons and that lead us to be less original than we think. They are found in the so-called parietal cortex of our brain and the good thing about them is that the more active they are, the more empathetic we can become and the more understanding we have with those around us.

5- And there are others that "send you to bed"

They have identified them at the University of Oxford, where they have verified that these neuronal cells work as a switch: they connect when you have been awake for many hours and send you the necessary signals so that you understand that you must rest. Once you obey "the order" and rest the hours your body needs, those neurons relax and become inactive because their function and objective have been fulfilled.

6- Neural communication

Neurons communicate with each other by sending small electric shocks. It is estimated that each one of them has "a social group" formed by another 10,000 neurons, with which it exchanges information. However, when they consider that there is an excess of data, one or more of these neurons sends the order to "disconnect" the system so that it does not suffer from oversaturation. For this reason, we often have selective "attention" and "memory" and only remember what we find most useful or important.

7- There are two types of neurons

The excitatory, which are the majority (about 80% of them are), and inhibitory. The first ones are in charge of promoting the adequate stimulation so that our brain learns and keeps information; the second ones stop the previous ones.

Apparently, when we get older the inhibitors become stronger and exercise a greater power, so they partially stop learning. And that means that when we reach 50 or 60 we stop learning? Not much less! Only that, to achieve this - and since the behavior of the brain is different then - we may have to do more insistence and put more effort into what we want to retain and assimilate as knowledge.

8- Did you know that the stomach is considered the second brain?

And this is also the case because there are neural networks there (serotonin, the hormone of happiness) is also manufactured, and in order to achieve a good organic balance, they connect to "their colleagues" in the brain when they need it. A very graphic example that many will recognize immediately: when we are nervous we usually say "my stomach has closed, I can not eat anything". And, in part, it happens.

The stomach diverts to the muscles part of the blood that arrives, with which the digestive process slows down and the brain quenches the sensation of hunger. It is also known that many people who complain of digestive problems suffer stress or anxiety, which makes it difficult for them to concentrate or have a good mood. The situation improves substantially when they stop taking so many sugars and fats; they consume more vegetables and legumes and improve their digestive health.

9- What do neurons feed on?

It has long been known that its most precious nutrient is glucose, but we do not necessarily refer to sugar (which is excess ends up damaging all organs, also the brain) but to what the body generates from carbohydrates. But Omega 3 fatty acids are another of the great elixirs for those complicated structures. And a recent study corroborates that idea: if we add fish oil to the brain, their neurons stay in shape longer.

10- They feel ... even if what they feel does not happen

In recent years many interesting experiments on the brain and neurons have been developed. And several of them have shown that both humans and animals (monkeys, rats ...) can experience certain sensations by appropriately stimulating the appropriate neuron. That is, it is possible to get us to feel that we are delighting in a delicious multi-colored fruit smoothie even though we are not drinking that beverage. This leads us to think that in the future our life could be something like a science fiction movie and live the majority of experiences virtually.