Human Brain Vs. The Computer

By, eHow Contributor

The human brain and the computer are often compared to one another because they can both perform many similar tasks.

______ Both the brain and a computer use electricity in order to send signals. However, the electricity sent through the brain is based solely on the wiring of the computer, while the human brain uses chemicals like sodium and potassium to transmit electrical signals. The computer powered only by electricity, while the brain requires an assortment of vitamins and minerals in order to continue functioning.

________ Computers can continue to store memories as long as more RAM is added. The information never goes away unless the data is damaged or corrupted in some way. The computer also stores information in a more organized way than the human brain. Also, the memory never changes. However, the human brain sometimes fails to store information, struggles to locate buried information, loses information and sometimes remembers things incorrectly.

________ The human brain adapts to new circumstances and learns new ideas more quickly than the computer, since many new tasks for a computer have to be coded and sometimes must have new hardware developed in order to correspond with the task. However, a computer can manage several tasks simultaneously without error, while some people struggle to walk and chew bubble gum at the same time. The computer can perform calculations faster than the human brain, although the brain has the ability to interpret information, come up with new ideas and be imaginative.

______ The computer can be continually upgraded and advanced through the development of technology, while the human brain currently cannot be upgraded and can only be strengthened through nutrition and brain exercises. Currently, however, the brain is capable of performing a variety of tasks automatically such as regulating breathing, heartbeat, body temperature and interpreting sensory data while censoring unimportant information. The brain is also able to intuitively adapt to different settings. For instance, an individual can completely shift his tone and wording when moving from a formal to an informal situation.

Mini-Dictionary

The Mind Machine?

to produce intelligence	виробляти інтелект
the continuing myth	міф, що триває
a list of the weights of the brains	список ваги мозку
males and females	чоловіки і жінки
this supports the theory	це підтверджує теорію
oxygen consumption	споживання кисню
complicated calculations	складні розрахунки
memory associations	асоціації пам'яті
changing routines	зміна рутини
to contain	містити
ordinary people	звичайні люди
no significant differences	ніяких істотних відмінностей
visual-spatial tasks	зорово-просторові завдання
the adult brain makes up	мозок дорослої людини складає
similarities between brains	подібності між мізками
at incredible speeds	з неймовірною швидкістю
a screwdriver	викрутка
to read upside down	читати догори ногами