Human Brain: What is so unique?

The human brain is different. We know that.

But how exactly to make it different?

Our brain allows to to think in the abstract, to imagine the future. One reason, scientists believe, lies in its size relative to the size of our body.

But perhaps the most important thing about our brain does not stop developing. Unlike other animals that have brains that stop growing

Ours seems to continue developing until our thirties.

You already know this. A new born is incapable of walking, talking or talking care of herself. It takes years for capacity to develop.

One of the outcomes of this slow gradual development is the ability to learn from our environment. Every experience helps shape our brains, the neural pathways, and the connections within making it better.

The neocortex, the outermost layer, is responsible for higher-order thinking. This part of the brain allows us to process language, think critically, and create meaning from patterns.

Take laughter, for example. It’s more than a simple reaction. It is a sophisticated interplay of recognizing humor, understanding context, and sharing social bonds. You have to "get" humor.

While many animals experience REM sleep, our dreams are rich, layered, and narrative. You are playing out your life and building scenarios, however absurd they may seem. Yes, all the characters in your dreams are from your life!

But if there is one capacity that makes the human brain stand out, it is imagination.

Imagination allows us to go beyond the present moment and visualize things that don’t exist. It gives us the ability to think of the future, but it also gives us the ability to walk in someone else’s shoes.

Here is the interesting part.

While the brain seems to stop developing around the age of thirty, you can still keep expanding your capacity.

New connections between your neurons continue to form all your life. The quest to learn to grow and to evolve is the hallmark of being human.

Don’t allow distractions to take that away from you.

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