In the depths of our brains, there is an ancient and powerful part hidden, which we call the reptilian brain. Although it is not as "famous" as the cerebral cortex, it plays a life-threatening role in our lives.
The reptilian brain, as the name suggests, is related to reptiles and is the earliest evolved part of the human brain, also known as the old brain or basal brain, and its existence can be traced back to distant timesAge of Dinosaurs, is the oldest brain in the world. Over the course of hundreds of millions of years of evolution, reptilian brains have gradually developed a set of capabilities toRespond quickly to external environmental stimuliThis is the prototype of the reptilian brain.
Over time, while the structure of the human brain has changed dramatically, the core part of the reptilian brain remains within our skull, structure, and functionSimilar to the brain of a reptile, hence the name "crawling brain". There are almost all kinds of cerebral creatures, and they don't vary much, such as lizards, reptiles, and your pet cat and dog.
The reptilian brain is made up of four different parts, which are "hard work".Medulla oblongataIts purpose is to keep people alive, to control the heartbeat, breathing, blood pressure and other mechanical non-stop work; "Clerk".Pons, the action is responsible for some trivial but indispensable little things, such as chewing and swallowing, tears, etc.; "Security".Midbrain, responsible for visual and auditory alertness, body temperature, and motor control when danger is detected; "Technician".Cerebellum, responsible for maintaining balance, hand and foot coordination, and walking normally. In general, things like "you don't have to think about it" that we often say belong to the jurisdiction of the reptilian brain.
The structure and function of the reptilian brain in each of us is so without exception that if there is an exception, it means dysfunction.
The reptilian brain is like a smart deviceFixed Q&A, which controls the most primitive basic functions, such as breathing, heartbeat, thermoregulation, and voluntary movement, are essential for our life support, and are often carried out automatically outside of our consciousness and cannot be controlled by humans.
For example, when we see a scared snake or spider, we will unconsciously feel fear and act quickly to protect ourselves, and this response is driven by the reptilian brain, which allows us to respond quickly to danger. For example, when we suddenly hear a sound in the dark, the body will immediately produce a series of physiological reactions, the heart beats faster, the pupils dilate, and the attention is immediately attracted to the past.
There is such a phrase in "Lolita" by the American writer Vladimir Nabokov".There are three things that cannot be hidden: cough, poverty, and love; You want to hide it, but you want to cover it up”。Coughing, blinking, yawning, etc., belong to another type of voluntary movement that is responsible for the reptilian brain, which also occurs between our unconscious actions to ensure the proper functioning of our body.
In addition, many of our habitual behaviors in life, such as eating, sleeping, washing and getting haircuts, are driven by the reptilian brain. For example, when we are hungry, we tend to choose high-calorie foods, and when we are full, we develop resistance to high-sugar foods, which is the reptilian brain monitoring energy needs and intake, and adjusting dietary preferences according to these needs; When you wake up in the morning, you automatically perform a series of actions: stretching your limbs, scratching your head, and even going to the bathroom; When asleep, the reptilian brain regulates our sleep cycle and deep sleep to ensure that our body and brain are fully rested and restored. The silent drive of the reptilian brain helps you adapt to the environment and form habits, so that your life is more regular and healthy.
The reptilian brain is found in the human brainOne of the most original parts, its development and maturation process alsoCompleted at the earliest。This means that when we are still a fetus, the reptilian brain has already begun to perform its functions, but although the reptilian brain structure is relatively old, it'sComplexity and adaptabilitySurprisingly, our reptilian brains are not as open as they are, which is related to genetic education and the environment in which they were raised.
The study found that the reptilian brain copesStress and anxietyWhen people are in a stressful state, the reptilian brain releases some neurotransmitters to help us cope with stress, while also influencing our emotional state; The communication between the reptilian brain and the neocortex is for usDecision-making and behaviorCrucially, this communication can explain why we are influenced by both intuition and rational analysis when faced with complex decisions.
In other words, sometimes even if you think your actions are based on deliberate decisions, you're actually subtly influenced by the reptilian brain. For example, when you talk to others, the crawling brain releases hormones to help us identify the emotional state of others, quickly analyze the facial expressions and tone of voice of the other person, thus influencing your emotional response and communication strategy; When making decisions, the reptile brain adjusts our behavioral responses based on past experience and environmental factors.
We often attribute the higher functions of the brain to the neocortex, but we should also recognize the integral role of the reptilian brain in our lives. And the benefits of automatic control of the crawling brain are greatReduces the power consumption of the brainFor some simple and easy-to-get life-based behaviors, we give priority to the use of reptilian brains.
Therefore, people's instinct is not to do things that cost their brains, and they are not "lazy". This is tooEvolutionaryIf we use the other two brains (lactating brain and human brain) for a long time, it is easy to "overclock and crash", so the best mode of learning to think isBonus mode, read a book for a while, rest for a while, do a problem for a while, empty yourself, and pour chicken soup to beat chicken blood, which is not in line with the working mechanism of the brain.
The office at 2 o'clock in the middle of the night and the library at 4 o'clock in the morning are, to put it bluntly, they are all "acting" and "mixing", and they are not really using their brains, because our bodies simply can't carry the high-power rational cerebral cortexHigh intensity and long timework, or simply can't stand it, and the heart is more than enough but not enough.
Focus on efficient study work, 8 hours a day, enough. Learning, growth, and evolution are all accumulated day by day, and are determined by our brains. Relaxation is the only way to be truly innovative.