By Brain and mind are linked, but the former is biological and the latter is phenomenological; each of them has its own functions and wonderful particularities. Learn about their differences here.
One is visible, the other is completely intangible. The brain and the mind are different, but both are based on that amazing structure made up of more than 69 billion neurons . Although scientists say that we know almost more about the universe than about this fascinating organ, we are constantly finding new answers to its mysteries.
An important point that we know from psychology is that what we think changes the brain . Psychological therapies can reduce hyperactivity of the amygdala and even increase neuronal connections. Although for a long time it was assumed that the brain governed all behavior and thought, the truth is that the mind has more power than we think.
Knowing the differences between one entity and another will be both revealing and interesting. Learn more below.
The brain is wider than the sky; put them together and one will easily contain the other, and you too. The brain is deeper than the sea; contain them, blue with blue, and one will absorb the other, like a sponge (…)
Are brain and mind the same thing?
Aristotle was perhaps the first figure to begin this attempt to understand the phenomena of the mind, separating them from the biological. In his work On the Soul , 350 BC, he wrote this remarkable treatise which, although it addressed the soul as its central theme, laid the foundations of biopsychology itself. The mind, he said, is everything that is thinkable.
Now, what is obvious is that the mind requires the brain to exist. This makes the former seem like an epiphany of the latter, leading to a certain reductionism.
It is assumed that all psychological phenomena are restricted to the neurological; when this is not always the case. Understanding the differences between the brain and the mind allows us to have a broader vision of what we are and how we act.
Thus, works such as those published in the journal Perspectives on Psychological Science , claim something interesting. It is true that psychology and neuroscience are obliged to work together. But not everything can be explained by biology or neurology.
Cognitions, emotions, memories, self-esteem and beliefs are more complex than we think. Let us detail the distinctions below.
1. Biological vs. phenomenological
The mind is a phenomenon of the brain, an abstract entity that integrates consciousness and a multitude of cognitive processes . The brain, on the other hand, is part of the central nervous system (CNS) and constitutes the largest area of the brain. It is a complex organ that arises as the result of thousands of years of evolution.
Thus, while the latter is made up of tangible and observable areas such as tissues, cells or neural networks , what happens in the mind is not visible. All its processes, subjectivities and operating mechanics are addressed by psychology, while neuroscience deals with the brain.
To this day, no one knows what the mind is and how the brain creates it.
2. Hardware vs. software
We can view the brain as the structure, the components ( hardware ) and the mind as the software that runs on it. Thus, it is important to understand that, although they are closely linked, the brain and the mind have differences in their functions. Let us now understand the processes that each one carries out.
Brain
- Memory .
- Language.
- Emotions.
- Breathing.
- Self-control.
- Personality.
- Heart rate.
- Sleep cycles .
- Motor activity.
- Balance and coordination.
- Processes sensory information.
- It is responsible for homeostatic functions.
- Regulates the functions of different organs.
- Regulates endocrine and hormonal functions.
- It creates the foundation for cognitive and emotional processes.
Mind
- Regulates emotions.
- It shapes our identity.
- It gives meaning to what we see and what happens to us.
- It carries out all cognitive processes (thoughts).
- The mind works on three levels: conscious, subconscious and unconscious .
- It processes and shapes beliefs, self-esteem, emotions, judgments, and memory.
- Consciousness is part of the mind, because thanks to it we give meaning to the person we are, what surrounds us and every experience.
Although we still do not know exactly what the mind does, works such as those published in the journal Frontiers in Human Neuroscience indicate that we are entering an era of great advances, in which the science of neurophenomenology will allow us to know more data.
3. Localization vs. distribution
Today, science still cannot answer how the brain creates the mind or consciousness . That is one of the greatest mysteries to be solved. We do understand, however, every region, function and process of the brain. We know that it is housed in the cranial cavity, that it is distributed in two cerebral hemispheres interconnected by the corpus callosum and that it also contains the cerebellum.
However, the mind is not in a physical and concrete place, but it manifests itself thanks to the neurological networks, the world of experience, and is linked to our body.
4. The brain and the mind, the biological and the psychological
The brain is a biological organ, the result of our evolution, which follows the principles of neurobiology, physiology, anatomy and neurobiology. It is governed by biological processes, while the mind is governed by psychological processes.
While neuroscience addresses the understanding of the brain and its processes, psychology has been trying to understand the functioning of the mind for decades. On the other hand, it should be noted that cognitive psychology is the most comprehensive approach to respond to all those phenomena that occur in the mental universe.
Research such as that published in the Journal of Rational-emotive & Cognitive-behavior Therapy reviews all this work and its historical perspective on this end.
Brain alterations such as a lower production of serotonin or a more hyperactive amygdala affect the functioning of the mind.
5. Brain diseases vs. mental disorders
The brain can develop diseases, alterations and suffer trauma, all of which are easily diagnosed. The same does not happen with the mind. Any alteration in it cannot be labelled as an “illness”, because it is not observable with an X-ray, MRI or ordinary medical history . In these cases we speak of psychological disorders .
There are common elements to highlight. Any disease, brain problem or alteration in neurotransmitters affects mental health. An example of this is having a serotonin deficiency , which would affect our mood. However, this can be reversed if we take care of our mental focus and go to therapy; because the mind also modifies the brain.
6. The brain controls physiology; the mind, what you think and feel
The brain and the mind are two wonderfully interconnected dimensions. The former configures a building and we would be the mind, that entity that gives it life, decorates it and inhabits it. Thus, while the brain structures every physiological process, the mind is the intangible expression of every thought, emotion, processed experience, constructed belief or overcome fear .
It is very likely that the best decisions are not the result of a brain reflection, but the result of an emotion.
~ Eduard Punset ~
7. Reductionist vs. holistic
It is interesting to know that the study of the brain often takes a reductionist approach. Neuroscience focuses on studying the smallest processes, in order to understand the mechanisms that orchestrate each function. It is an analytical, experimental and very objective task.
The mind, on the other hand, is holistic, phenomenological, and integrates processes of all kinds to try to understand it. We can see it from a cognitive, emotional, philosophical, and even spiritual perspective. Because while the brain is a set of tissues and nerve cells, the mind is like the cosmos: something immeasurable and infinite, full of possibilities.
Although they have differences, the brain and the mind are interconnected dimensions
To conclude, we only need to point out one small aspect. Although we have listed the most notable differences between the brain and the mind, both dimensions are interconnected and, in order to understand them, it is impossible to separate one from the other.
It is therefore important that neuroscience and psychology work together. Let us avoid reductionism and broaden our view.