We’ve all made this mistake at least once in our lives: using the words ‘brain’ and ‘mind’ interchangeably. It’s easy to make this mistake because both can look like the same thing.
They didn’t!
There are actually quite a few differences between the brain and the mind. So how exactly are the brain and the mind different? We will learn in this article.
But before we get into the differences, let’s first understand what brain and mind are.
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What is the brain?
The brain is an organ located inside our skull that regulates all the physical functions of the human body. It is a vital part of our central nervous system (CNS) that serves as a center for collecting, organizing and disseminating information throughout the body. Most of the organs of our body are under its control.
The brain is the most complex organ in the body and has about 86 billion active neurons that interact with each other to create circuits and exchange information.
Our brain is divided into three large parts. These are: cerebellum, cerebrum and brain stem.
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What is the mind?
Mind is a concept that has been debated and researched by scholars, scientists and theologians for centuries. The agreed upon definition of the mind is that it is a complex network of thought processes and consciousness arising from the neurological activity of the brain. Our mind can be divided into three layers: conscious, unconscious and subconscious.
The conscious layer consists of our immediate thoughts, feelings and memories, while the unconscious layer is composed of basic and primordial impulses, and the subconscious layer contains memories and behaviors that we have acquired over time.
Researching the mind is an ongoing process and has provided many insights into how our mental processes influence our behavior.
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Brain vs. Mind: What are the Differences?
In the simplest terms, the mind refers to our ability to think, feel and physically act. Brain, on the other hand, refers to the physical organ in our head that supports these functions. Here are three key differences between the two:
- The brain consists of neurons and blood vessels; on the other hand, the mind is abstract and not composed of neurons or blood vessels.
- While the brain controls a person’s movements, emotions and various bodily functions; mind alludes to one’s morals, reasoning and understanding.
- The brain is a physical organ; can be touched or seen; however, the mind is intangible; it can neither be touched nor seen.
There are many debates about the differences between brain and mind. However, one thing is certain: mental skills can be trained, but brain function cannot be changed. Mental skills such as decision making, problem solving, creativity and communication can be trained over time to increase the efficiency of a person’s mental processes.
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In short, brain and mind are two very different concepts; the brain is a physical organ, while the mind is an intangible concept. Although both are essential to a person’s functioning, the brain is responsible for physical functions, while the mind is responsible for abstract thoughts and emotions and is not bound by the same physical laws as the brain.
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Categories: Optical Illusion
Source: newstars.edu.vn