Dr. Yelena Baranova, head of the Functional Diagnostics of Nervous System Diseases Department at the Federal Center for Brain and Neurotechnology, likens the brain to a huge factory that works non-stop.
She says: "The brain is like a constantly changing production factory, and it can never be fully studied and understood."
Baranova refutes the common belief that the brain only functions at 10% of its capacity.
She says: "The brain is actually fully active and constantly working. Although it only makes up 2% of body weight, it consumes about 20% of its energy. Therefore, the theory that likens it to a dimly lit lamp is a logical fallacy. Yes, it is true that the brain does not consume a huge amount of energy, but it uses it very efficiently and economically, which enables it to perform its functions and achieve these results. I would like to liken the brain to a huge production factory that works around the clock, with many different processes, and has a manager who organizes them efficiently."
It indicates that many secrets of the brain have not yet been revealed by scientists.
She says: "Of course, the brain has not been fully studied yet. We still do not know how to properly deal with the brain's immune system, as many of the stimuli we try to introduce into the brain are rejected by the immune system. In other words, we cannot easily help the brain. We also cannot deliver all drugs to it, because, as I mentioned, there is a barrier between the brain and the bloodstream that prevents some of these drugs from reaching it. The brain still holds many secrets."
She adds: "I'm sure the brain will never be fully studied, because it is constantly changing. Even neurons are designed in such a way that the proteins they produce internally vary slightly in their composition, allowing the brain to adapt to a wide range of conditions."
