Human brain weight is about 2% of body weight. However, its energy consumption is 20%. Thanks to brain imaging techniques (like fMRI and PET) scientists can see the changing metabolism and brain blood streams, which mean energy consumption as explained by Marcus E. Raichle from Washington University [1]. According to Raichle, only between 0,5% and 1% of the energy is used to bear with external world. 60% to 80% of the energy is dedicated to maintain the connection between neurons. Therefore, the creation of new neuronal routes is the main energy consumption mechanism.

Other source of energy consumption could be the constant prediction processes present in the brain. Human brain is often defined as a prediction machine, as it collects information and experiences from the past and tries to prepare and anticipate the immediate future.

[1] The Brain's Dark Energy. Marcus E. Raichle.  Science 24 November 2006: Vol. 314. no. 5803, pp. 1249 - 1250. DOI: 10.1126/science. 1134405

Comments (1)

1  Monkey's brain dark energy Written by This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , on 09-05-2007 16:57 It seems that macaque monkeys also have the similar activity patterns during unconscious states [1]. For more details, see Nature editor's summary about this article.      [1] Intrinsic functional architecture in the anaesthetized monkey brain  J. L. Vincent, G. H. Patel, M. D. Fox, A. Z. Snyder, J. T. Baker, D. C. Van Essen, J. M. Zempel, L. H. Snyder, M. Corbetta & M. E. Raichle. Nature - 05758.

Only registered users can write comments.
Please login or register.

Related Items:

1. Pinky and the Brain
2. Consciousness in Vegetative State?
3. We know the brain as much as Galileo knew the universe
4. Emotions and the perception of pain
5. Phantom limbs and virtual reality
6. Ramón y Cajal Nobel Prize Centenary
7. Online Neuroanatomy Course
8. The Quest for Consciousness: A Neurobiological Approach
9. Emotion, moral judgement, and Reason
10. New anesthesia derived from chillis block pain without impairing movement