Your brain is one of your body's most intricate and exciting organs, made up of billions of neurons (or nerve cells) that interact through trillions of connections called synapses. It's crucial to keep your brain engaged and healthy. See how potent it is by learning these fascinating facts.

1. The human brain is the most complex organ in the body, with more than 100 billion neurons and trillions of connections. It controls all bodily functions, including movement, sensation, thought, memory, and emotion. The brain is divided into three main parts: the cerebrum, cerebellum, and brainstem.
2. The cerebrum is the largest part of the brain and is responsible for conscious thought, decision-making, and control of voluntary movement. The cerebellum is located beneath the cerebrum and is responsible for coordination and balance. The brainstem connects the cerebrum and cerebellum to the spinal cord and is responsible for basic functions such as breathing and heart rate.
3. The brain is protected by the skull and cushioned by cerebrospinal fluid, which helps to absorb shocks and keep the brain floating. The brain uses 20% of the body's total energy, despite being only 2% of the body's weight. The brain can store an almost unlimited amount of information, equivalent to around 2.5 petabytes and process information at a speed of 120 meters per second.
4. The left side of the brain is responsible for logic and language, while the right is responsible for creativity and spatial awareness. The brain has a unique ability to change and adapt, a process known as neuroplasticity. It can create new neurons, a process called neurogenesis, mainly in the hippocampus, a region responsible for memory and spatial navigation.
5. The brain has specialised areas for different functions, such as the visual cortex for visual processing information and the motor cortex for controlling movement. The brain can multitask, allowing us to perform multiple tasks simultaneously. It uses sleep to consolidate memories and processes and flush toxins. The hippocampus plays a key role in spatial navigation and episodic memories.
6. Meditation and mindfulness practices have been found to improve brain function and increase grey matter. The brain can filter out irrelevant information and focus on what is important, known as selective attention. It can recognise faces, even when they are partially hidden or obscured. The brain is capable of experiencing phantom pain, even after the body part responsible for the sensation is removed.
7. The brain releases chemicals called neurotransmitters, which affect mood and behaviour. It releases endorphins, natural painkillers, which can reduce pain and create a feeling of euphoria. The brain is capable of creating vivid hallucinations and vivid dreams during sleep. It has a unique ability to perceive time based on a combination of memory, attention, and sensory input.
8. The brain can perceive music based on emotion, memory, and attention. It can detect complex or hidden patterns; this ability is known as pattern recognition. The brain has a unique ability to generate new ideas, known as divergent thinking. The ability to focus attention is known as cognitive control or executive function.
9. The brain can learn from experience, a process known as reinforcement learning. The brain can also make predictions based on patterns and prior experiences; this ability is known as predictive coding. The brain's ability to change its structure and function in response to new experiences is called brain plasticity or neuroplasticity.
10. The brain can adjust the way it processes and interprets information through a process called perceptual learning. The brain has a unique ability to generate new connections between neurons, a process called synaptogenesis.
11. The brain can generate new neurons, called neurogenesis, mainly in the hippocampus, an area important for memory and spatial navigation. The brain also can adapt to new environments and situations, a process known as environmental adaptation.
12. The brain can process and understand complex emotions and feelings, such as empathy, compassion, and altruism, which are important for social interactions and relationships. The brain also plays a critical role in regulating emotions by releasing chemicals such as dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin.
13. The brain can process and understand language, a critical ability for communication and understanding the world around us. It can process complex grammar and syntax and understand the meaning of words and phrases.
14. The brain plays a critical role in spatial navigation through cognitive maps, which allow us to understand and navigate our environment. The brain also plays a critical role in the sense of balance and coordination through the use of the vestibular system.
15. The brain can process and understand visual information through specialised areas such as the visual cortex. It can process complex visual scenes, understand spatial relationships, and detect patterns and shapes.
16. The brain can process and understand auditory information through specialised areas such as the auditory cortex. It can process complex sounds and understand rhythms and pitches.
17. The brain can process and understand touch through specialised areas such as the somatosensory cortex.
18. The brain plays a critical role in the sense of taste and smells through specialised areas such as the olfactory bulb and taste buds.
19. The brain can process and understand multiple languages, a process known as bilingualism or multilingualism.
20. The brain can process and understand mathematical concepts using specialised areas such as the parietal lobe.
21. The brain is capable of working memory, holding and manipulating information in mind over short periods, which is important for problem-solving and decision-making.
22. The brain's 'default mode network' is active when you daydream or mind-wander and is associated with spontaneous thoughts and memories; it's also linked to creativity and innovation.
23. The brain is capable of the concept of self and self-awareness, which is the ability to understand and reflect on one's mental states and emotions.
24. The brain can perceive physical sensations such as pain, temperature, and pressure, mainly mediated by specialised cells called nociceptors.
25. The brain is capable of experiencing different types of hallucinations, for example, auditory hallucinations, such as hearing voices, or visual hallucinations, such as seeing things that aren't there; they can also happen during sleep, as in lucid dreams.
26. The brain can perceive optical illusions, which are images that are perceived differently from how they are; this ability results from the brain's ability to process visual information and make predictions about the environment.
27. The brain can work under pressure and multitask, quickly switching between tasks and prioritising the most important ones.
28. The brain can recognise patterns, even when they are complex or hidden, this ability is known as pattern recognition, and it's critical for learning, memory, and decision-making.
29. The brain can adapt to changes in its environment and function, known as brain plasticity; this is done by creating new neural connections, strengthening or weakening existing connections, and generating new neurons. This process is what allows the brain to continue learning, growing and adapting throughout one's life.
30. The brain can generate creative ideas through a process known as divergent thinking; this is the ability to think of multiple solutions or ideas for a problem or challenge; it's associated with the ability to think outside the box and approach problems innovatively and uniquely.