BRAIN FACTS

Do you know that…

• Human brain contains more than 100,000,000,000 neurons (10 billion) at birth

• The longest axon of a human neuron can be over a meter long, reaching from the base of the spine to the toes.

• Rate of neuron growth (early pregnancy) = 250,000 neurons/minute

• Average weight of the human brain = 1300-1400g (3 pds)

• New born human brain = 350-400g (12 oz) – Approx. 25% of adult weight

• Weight of the brain at 6 months = 50% of its adult weight

• Weight of the brain at 30 months = 75% of its adult weight

• Cerebral cortex at age 5 (before school) = 90% of its adult weight

• Percent of total body weight that the brain represents = 2% (avg)

• Percent of body’s oxygen consumed by the brain = 25%

• Percent of body’s glucose burned up by the brain = 70% (avg)

• Percent of body’s nutrients consumed by the brain = 25%

• Distance of blood vessels and other transport systems in the brain = 160,000km (100,000 miles)

• Number of connections in the adult brain = 1 quadrillion (one million billion)