Fact of Life: Brains have limits
It seems like most of what we know about the brain is from people who are missing sections of it. There is a great story of a man who lost the front part of his brain, and as a result his personality changed. There’s another story about a gentlemen who can’t form new memories. Then, there is also the guy who mistook his wife for a hat. In fact, there are thousands of stories about brains not working properly. But what is a proper functioning brain like?
Everyone’s brain is different. A brain is such a complicated part of us that no two ever seem to be the same. We have yet to transplant one. So yes, chances are there is something about your brain that may not be benefiting you; and I’m sorry to say you’re going to have to deal with that fact. I am dyslexic, and I compensate for it with spell-check. Everyone has something. The important thing is that we acknowledge our weaknesses and then overcome them, one way or another.
There is no such thing as a perfect brain. If you look back in history, all of our greatest minds had trouble forming relationships, or relating to others, or managing their lives, or adhering to social conventions. The only question is, how can you use your brain to your benefit?
Your brain is a big jar of jelly. In it, there are tiny clusters of cells floating around, minding their own business. Let’s say that one cluster is aware that some things are hot. This cluster understands that some things have a higher temperature than others, like melted ice cream. Somewhere else in the brain is a cluster of cells that knows that some things are dangerous. It tells you to stay away from certain things, like lions, bears and dragons. Now, when you touch the stove and burn your hand, both the hot and the dangerous clusters of cells in the brain start lighting up. Because they are both active at the same time, they have a significant chance of forming a connection to each other, sort of a super highway between them. This is done in a very real way with a very physical, wire-like strand. Now, every time you burn yourself or even just think about it, your brain is activating both clusters, and each cluster is aware that the other one exists. Furthermore, the more you activate both at the same time, the bigger and stronger the highway between the two gets, kind of like how working out makes your muscles stronger.
You brain is basically a series of connecting networks. When two networks relate to each other, they connect. When they relate strongly, they make a strong connection. If you want to memorize something new, simply relate it to something you already know. Kulfi (something you might not have heard of) is highly relatable to the concepts of India and ice cream (two things you probably already know.)