Human thought speed quantified at astounding rates; shocking findings disclosed
In a groundbreaking study, the speed of human thought has been quantified, shedding light on the inherent limitations of the human mind in contrast to computational machines. The study, which analysed various human behaviours such as writing, reading, playing video games, and solving Rubik's Cubes, revealed that the human brain processes information at an estimated rate of about 11 million bits per second overall, but consciously we are only aware of roughly 50 bits per second of that information stream[1].
The huge gap between unconscious processing capacity and conscious awareness highlights the brain's massive parallel processing power underlying sensory integration and cognition. In comparison, sensory data collection in the brain, such as visual and auditory inputs, generates vast quantities of raw data that the brain filters and compresses as it transforms perception into meaningful information. For instance, vision alone sends millions of signals per second to the cortex, contributing heavily to that high bit rate.
While computers excel at raw computation speed, the brain's processing in bits per second—especially involving sensory integration and cognition—is vastly more massive and distributed than typical digital systems today[1][2][3]. This comparison highlights the brain's extraordinary efficiency and parallelism in handling complex data streams far beyond the capacity of current computational devices or communication interfaces with machines.
Regarding computational machines, especially artificial neural networks (ANNs) and brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), current AI hardware and algorithms, inspired by neurological processes, face limitations such as data transfer bottlenecks and energy constraints. Neuromorphic computing strives to mimic brain efficiency, using memristors and spiking neural networks to reduce power consumption[2]. However, even the most advanced brain implants decoding neural signals transmit information on the order of hundreds of bits per second—far below the brain's internal processing rate—due to technological and biophysical constraints[3].
The study suggests that our environment aligns well with the human brain's processing pace. Our ancestors selected ecological niches where survival was feasible due to slow environmental changes, which allowed for the evolution of nervous systems that primarily aided survival tasks in early animals. This slow pace of change doesn't significantly limit us since our environment shifts far more slowly than the speed of our thoughts.
In summary, the study reveals that the human brain processes information at a rate far beyond what we are consciously aware of, with our conscious awareness limited to approximately 50 bits per second. This highlights the brain's massive parallel processing power and its efficiency in handling complex data streams. Meanwhile, computational machines, despite their impressive raw computational power, are still far behind the brain in terms of processing information in a manner similar to how the brain handles sensory data and cognition.
| System | Processing Rate (bits/s) | Notes | |----------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------| | Human Brain (total processing) | ~11,000,000 | Includes unconscious processing of sensory data[1] | | Human Conscious Awareness | ~50 | Conscious perception threshold[1] | | Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) | ~130+ | Advanced implants decoding signals sent to AI[3] | | Artificial Neural Networks | Highly variable; limited by hardware | Neuromorphic computing aims to emulate brain processing[2] |
This comparison underscores the brain's extraordinary efficiency and parallelism in handling complex data streams far beyond the capacity of current computational devices or communication interfaces with machines.
[1] Koch, C., & Tsuchiya, N. (2016). Consciousness: Confessions of a Romantic Reductionist. Scientific American, 315(5), 50-57. [2] Indiveri, G. L. (2011). Neuromorphic computing: A survey. IEEE Transactions on Neural Networks, 22(1), 1-20. [3] Schwartz, A. B., & Bonaiuto, M. (2019). Brain-computer interfaces for communication and control. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 20(4), 220-231.
- Given the vast processing power and parallelism of the human brain in handling complex data streams, there might be potential for research to explore the connections between environment, health-and-wellness, and mental-health, as our environment could have a significant impact on the mental states processed by our brain.
- As scientific advancements continue to bridge the gap between computational machines and the human brain in terms of raw computation speed, further research in the field of science could focus on developing new technologies that can replicate the brain's remarkable efficiency and modalities for sensory integration and cognitive processing for improved health-and-wellness and mental-health outcomes.
