I’ve always been fascinated by the idea that our brains are bombarded with unimaginable amounts of information every second—far more than we could ever consciously process. Neuroscientists have long debated the numbers, with some estimates suggesting we process 50 bits per second out of 10 million bits of sensory input. But now, this mystery has been unraveled.
According to a recent groundbreaking study by professor Markus Meister and his team from the California Institute of Technology published in Neuron “The Unbearable Slowness of Being: Why do we live at 10 bits/s?” it’s now scientifically proven: our brains consciously process just 10 bits per second out of the billions of bits we receive.
The discovery of the human brain’s slow processing speed has significant implications for our understanding of neural bottlenecks and cognitive limitations. This “neural bottleneck” explains why we experience cognitive overload in complex situations and struggle with multitasking.
Potential Daily Impacts
This 10-bit-per-second limit may explain many challenges we face in daily life:
- Information Overload: Why we feel overwhelmed in complex situations.
- Decision Fatigue: The mental exhaustion we experience after making numerous choices.
- Learning and Skill Acquisition: Why mastering new skills takes time and repetition.
- Social Interactions: The difficulty of processing nuanced social cues under stress.
- Perception of Reality: Our subjective experience is shaped by what the brain deems important, heavily influenced by stress levels, emotions, and attention.
- Performance Optimisation: Understanding this bottleneck helps us design better strategies for focus and productivity.
My take away message: State of Mind Matters
Here’s where it gets even more interesting:
According to neuroscience our brain doesn’t process information equally—it filters and prioritises it based on number of factors , inbluding our state of mind.
- Fight-Flight-Freeze Mode (Stress Response): When we’re in a heightened state of stress (sympathetic nervous response), the brain focuses on survival. It narrows our perception, making us hyper-aware of threats and immediate challenges. While this is useful for safety, it blocks out broader, more creative information.
- Rest-and-Digest Mode (Calm State): In a calm state (parasympathetic nervous response), the brain allows us to consciously process more nuanced, creative, and strategic information. This is where creative and innovative thinking thrive.
The implications seem clear: tasks requiring analysis, problem-solving, and creativity are best performed when we are calm and in control.
Overwhelmed by stress?
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References:
The unbearable slowness of being: Why do we live at 10 bits/s?
Human Thought Lags Behind Sensory Speed
