New! Sign up for our free email newsletter.
Reference Terms
from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Human brain

The human brain is the most complex organ in the body and the control center of the nervous system. Weighing about three pounds and composed of approximately 86 billion neurons, it governs every aspect of thought, emotion, behavior, and bodily function. Protected by the skull and suspended in cerebrospinal fluid, the brain processes sensory information, coordinates movement, regulates internal systems, and enables learning, memory, language, and consciousness.

The brain is divided into several major regions, each with specialized roles. The cerebrum, the largest part, is responsible for higher cognitive functions like reasoning, problem-solving, and voluntary movement. It is divided into left and right hemispheres and further into lobes that handle vision, touch, hearing, and decision-making. The cerebellum, located beneath the cerebrum, helps coordinate balance and precise motor control. The brainstem connects the brain to the spinal cord and regulates vital functions such as breathing, heart rate, and sleep.

The brain communicates through a vast network of neurons, which transmit electrical and chemical signals via synapses. Supporting these neurons are glial cells, which provide structural support, nutrition, and protection. This intricate system allows the brain to integrate information from the environment, make decisions, and generate responses in real time.

The human brain is also remarkably adaptable. Through a process called neuroplasticity, it can reorganize itself by forming new neural connections in response to learning, injury, or experience. This adaptability is key to development, recovery, and cognitive flexibility throughout life.

Understanding the brain remains one of science’s greatest challenges. Advances in neuroscience and neuroimaging continue to uncover how the brain functions in health and disease, offering insights into conditions such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, stroke, epilepsy, and mental illness. As research progresses, the human brain remains both a marvel of biology and a frontier of scientific discovery.

Related Stories
 


Health & Medicine News

April 5, 2026

Scientists have uncovered a powerful new clue in the mystery of brain aging: a single protein called FTL1. In aging mice, higher levels of this protein weakened connections between brain cells and led to memory decline. But when researchers reduced ...
Scientists have created an artificial saliva using a sugarcane protein that can protect teeth and fight bacteria. The key ingredient, CANECPI-5, binds directly to enamel, forming a shield against ...
A new study reveals that gut bacteria and metabolites may hold the key to detecting serious digestive diseases earlier and more easily. Using AI, scientists found that biomarkers linked to one condition can often predict others, showing these ...
Many people think that occasional binge drinking is harmless if they otherwise drink in moderation, but new research suggests that assumption may be dangerously wrong. A large U.S. study found that people with metabolic dysfunction–associated ...
Warming across the U.S. is far more uneven than it looks at first glance. While only about half of states show rising average temperatures, most are heating up in specific ways—like hotter highs or warmer lows. These hidden shifts vary by region, ...
A new pill called baxdrostat is showing strong results in lowering dangerously high blood pressure in people who don’t respond to standard treatments. In a large global trial, patients saw their blood pressure drop by nearly 10 mmHg, a meaningful ...
Scientists have created a programmable drug system that can zero in on cancer cells with unprecedented accuracy. Built from synthetic DNA, it only activates when it detects a precise combination of ...
A new clinical trial suggests that what people eat could finally offer real relief for Crohn’s disease, a condition that has long lacked clear dietary guidance. Researchers found that a “fasting-mimicking diet” — involving just five days a ...
A new gene therapy is giving people born deaf the chance to hear, often within just weeks. In a small but groundbreaking study, researchers delivered a working copy of a key hearing gene directly into the inner ear using a single injection. All ten ...
A new study reveals that aging lungs may play a major role in why flu and COVID can become so dangerous for older adults. Researchers found that certain lung cells can trigger an exaggerated immune response, creating clusters of inflammatory cells ...
A newly identified gene mutation may help explain why schizophrenia patients struggle to update their understanding of reality. The mutation disrupts a brain circuit involved in flexible ...
A new study suggests that one of the most widely used health metrics, BMI, may be getting it wrong for a large portion of the population. By comparing BMI classifications with precise body fat measurements using advanced DXA scans, researchers found ...

Latest Headlines

updated 12:56 pm ET