Currently, I’m working on a new book idea
which involves a heroine with a type of memory loss called fugue, which can
affect a specific time period in a person’s life, but not all past memories.
This has prompted me to do research on the
human brain and begin thinking about brain health. Research can be endlessly
seductive, enticing a writer away from the actual work of writing an
honest-to-goodness book. However, I’ve been having some issues with focus and
concentration for a while, and I’m betting many other people have, too, so I’m
going to share a little bit of what I’ve learned.
Even though the brain regulates the nervous
system, it lacks nerves, so it feels no pain.
It consumes 20% of the body’s energy.
It’s the fattest organ in the body at 60%
fat, but 75% of its total mass is water. (I’m not even going to try to figure
out how that works. Let’s just go with it.)
The brain produces approximately 23-25
watts of electrical power.
It gets 20% of all the body’s blood and
oxygen.
As we age, it is harder to remember new
things because the brain is unable to filter and remove old memories. This
prevents it from taking in new memories.
Lack
of water to the brain can cause numerous symptoms including problems with
focus, memory, brain fatigue and brain fog, as well as headaches, sleep issues,
anger, depression, and many more.
Things
that affect our brains negatively are excessive sugar intake (sugar feeds inflammation which some scientists believe leads to dementia), skipping
breakfast, multi-tasking, conversing rarely, lack of sleep, and overeating
(because blood rushes to our digestive system and slows brain function).
Hm,
so what I’ve learned from all of this is that we need to be well-hydrated,
well-fed, and well-rested. Not exactly a newsflash, but it’s important to
remember because if we writers don’t take care of our brains, we’ll quickly be
out of a job.
Oh,
and the photo above has nothing to do with brains, but my backyard in a rain
shower is prettier than the average brain.
Thanks for these reminders--the older I get the more I read about the brain and brain health. Not so surprising. Brain research is some of the most compelling scientific research around right now. It's easy to get lost in it! Good luck with your story. Sounds like an intriguing character.
ReplyDeleteAnd even scientists admit they know very little about the brain.
DeleteSugar is clearly my brain kryptonite :)
ReplyDeleteWhat did it say about salt? Salt is my biggest downfall. Way more than sugar. But someone told me salt changes to sugar in the system. If so, that probably accounts for much of my brain problems. I recall reading a book a long time ago with a heroine who had fugue. Can I remember who wrote it or the title---no. Must be one of my brain issues. Good luck on the new book idea.
ReplyDeleteSalt is seductive, isn't it Roz? It doesn't change to sugar, though. Maybe you're thinking of starch, like the starch in potato chips. Starch is a carbohydrate and does change to sugar as it digests. Salt tends to make us retain water and can affect blood pressure, though, and high blood pressure probably isn't good for brains either.
DeleteThat's true about salt. Sodium is an element, so it can't really change into carbon, which is what sugar is.
DeletePatricia, okay this is a seriously cool, way cool idea for a heroine. I love it. I had a memory-loss story I did over twenty years ago and was fascinated THEN about the research. It is so true. We have to be quite protective of our brains. I'm sorry to hear that multi-tasking is not good for the brain, because I don't know a writer around who doesn't multi-task. Yikes!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds so interesting. Can't wait to read about it. I suppose that last of conversing is another possible writer problem, unless we get to count fictional conversations. I think I'll go drink some water now. Thanks, Patricia. Oh, and I love the photo--very pretty.
ReplyDeleteYour backyard is beautiful! And those are some interesting facts about the brain. I had no idea it was 60% fat. :)
ReplyDeleteWow, thanks for the brain power primer. Researching a story is one of most interesting aspects of writing and your book idea sounds great! Now I have to go drink a big glass of water or two.
ReplyDeleteSugar is my downfall. Must.Stop. Thanks for the reminder about keeping our bodies healthy!
ReplyDeleteOur brain is the last frontier of the human body. The way of memories is endlessly fascinating-- what we remember and how we remember it. A friend brought up something I said to her on her wedding day thirty-plus years ago that I'd forgotten and still can't remember saying. No idea how detectives solve crimes based on eyewitness accounts. Fascinating topic, Patricia!
ReplyDeleteThe information on staying hydrated is so interesting. I need to drink more water for sure! And sugar... I have quit so many times and I always go back. I am convinced it should be classified as a drug! Thank you for sharing all of this great information!
ReplyDeleteThis was so interesting! I liked what Moira said up there--the last frontier. It really is, isn't it?
ReplyDelete