Scientists Have Calculated the Speed of Human Thought for the First Time
In a groundbreaking study, researchers from the California Institute of Technology have unveiled a fascinating insight into the speed of human thought. By leveraging the principles of information theory and carefully analyzing an array of human activities such as reading, writing, playing video games, and solving Rubik’s cubes, scientists have arrived at a surprising conclusion.
The study reveals that human thought operates at a mere rate of 10 bits per second, a stark contrast to our sensory systems which gather data at an astonishing rate of one billion bits per second—100 million times faster. This intriguing discovery has opened up new avenues of inquiry for neuroscientists, prompting questions as to why we are capable of focusing on just a single thought at a time when our senses are adept at processing thousands of inputs simultaneously, as reported by TechExplorist.
Scientific data shed light on the composition of the brain, noting that out of the more than 85 billion neurons present, roughly a third reside in the cortex, the outermost layer of the brain, known to govern complex thinking processes. Each neuron is capable of transmitting more than ten bits of information every second and boasts remarkable information processing capabilities. Yet, the paradox remains: why do humans process information so slowly despite the vast number of neurons at our disposal?
“Every moment, we extract just 10 bits from the trillion that our senses are taking in and use those 10 to perceive the world around us and make decisions. This raises a paradox: What is the brain doing to filter all this information?” ponder the scientists from Markus Meister’s lab.
With the identification of this “speed limit” within the brain, Meister suggests that addressing these paradoxes should become a focus for future neuroscience research.
[p>Scientists are also delving into the mystery of why the brain can handle only one thought at a time, unlike the sensory systems capable of managing multiple inputs simultaneously. The researchers propose that this constraint may be intricately linked to the evolutionary trajectory of the human brain.“Our ancestors adapted to an environment where the world moved slowly enough that survival was still possible, even with limited processing power. The study suggests that the 10 bits per second of thinking are only really necessary in high-pressure, worst-case scenarios. Most of the time, our surroundings change at a much slower, more manageable pace,” the study authors explain.
With advancements in technology, industry leaders have recently suggested the notion of establishing a direct interface between the human brain and computers, aiming for enhanced speed in communication. Nevertheless, this study conveys that even with such a brain-computer interface, human thought will still transpire at a constant pace of 10 bits per second.
As the implications of this research continue to unfold, the scientific community and tech innovators alike are posed with the challenge of deciphering these complexities of human cognition and exploring potential applications that could transcend the limitations of our mental processing speed. As our understanding of the human brain deepens, so too does the promise of unlocking new frontiers in neuroscience and technology.
