Is the Brain a Muscle? Unpacking the Misconception

When discussing the brain, it’s common to hear the question “Is the brain a muscle?” pop up. It’s an interesting question about the most fascinating organ in the human body. This article will unpack the question and show you how the brain is similar to a muscle and how it is different. We’ll also dive into ways you can use your brain to improve it over time, similar to how you can lift weights and improve your strength over time. Let’s dive in.

The Brain Basics

While the brain and muscle tissue share some similarities, the brain is not a muscle. Its a tightly wound ball of nerve tissue made up of mostly fat and water. Millions of neurons wrapped in fatty tissue called “myelin” make it up. Which communicates with other areas of the brain and receives and transmits signals to and from the body. The muscles have nerves but are part of the “peripheral nervous system,” meaning anything outside the spinal cord. We’ll go into the differences between peripheral and central nerves later on.

Comparing Brain Tissue to Muscle Tissue

Comparing brain and muscle tissue quickly reveals the differences between the two. The brain and body have two main differences: composition and regeneration. Below are explanations of both.

1. Composition: Muscle tissue contains nerves and muscle fibers. The nerves tell the muscle fibers to contract, and the fibers do so through a series of physical and chemical processes. In this sense, the nerve carries the message, and the muscle acts on the message. Brain tissue is more about the transfer of information.

Brain cells have three main parts: the cell body, the axon, and the dendrites. The cell body sends the message, the axon carries it, and the dendrites connect to other cells to relay the message. This communication is less about passing a specific message about movement and more about informing the brain about what’s happening in the outer world. The brain’s main job is to take this information, filter it, and decide whether or not it’s safe to stay in that environment. It has a lot of other functions besides that, but survival is the most fundamental function of the human brain.

2. Regeneration: Muscle tissue has a much greater ability to repair itself when damaged. We’ve all had cuts, bumps, or bruises that heal and fade with time. This is because the peripheral nervous system can repair tissue damage in a way that the central nervous system does not. Damaged peripheral nerves will grow at about 1mm/day when cut, demonstrating this unique property of peripheral nerves.

Central nerves, or anything including the brain and spinal cord, play by a different set of rules. Brain tissue cannot heal when it’s damaged. But this comes with a caveat. It CAN reorganize itself to compensate for damage through a process known as “plasticity.” An example of this in real life is a blind person having incredible smell or sense of touch. The brain took the connections from the occipital cortex and used them to support other senses. This reorganization is unique to the central nervous system. It illustrates our vast potential to influence our brain health positively.

Muscle and Brain Similarities

Despite the two differences above, there are some similarities between brain and muscle tissues.

1: Adaption: The brain and body can adapt to stimuli and change their structure. Muscles respond to repeated exercise by becoming bigger or better at using oxygen. In the same way, the brain can strengthen its ability to exert willpower or tolerate discomfort. The key to improving nervous system function in both branches is to push it to the point of metabolic fatigue and then recover. In exercise, we call this muscle failure; in neurologic rehab, we call it the metabolic capacity. While the mechanisms are different, the basic concept is the same: push it until it gets tired and will get stronger.

Both muscle tissue and brain tissue also require a diverse array of experiences in order to consistently challenge this adaption process. In the same way, you wouldn’t do the same workout and expect to get stronger; you can’t challenge your brain the same amount or in the same way and expect it to improve. The brain loves variety and is good at predicting patterns, so the more unique the challenge, the more the brain will respond.

2: Well-Being: Many of the same things that are good for muscle tissue are good for brain tissue. Anything you do for one is good for the other. Physical exercise is highly therapeutic for the brain. Similarly, improving brain function can improve neural output in the body. Supplements that support antioxidant activity in the brain also support antioxidant activity in the brain. A more thorough rundown of best practices is below.

Brain Health Tips

You can’t entirely build brain mass like you would a muscle, but below are some ways to improve brain function.

– Diet and Nutrition: Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids are essential for brain health because of the rich fat content of brain tissue. Antioxidants are also crucial for a high-functioning brain. These are found in berries, leafy green vegetables, or supplements. Lastly, the brain can only run on glucose, so ensuring a steady stream can boost brain function efficiently and sustainably. This is done by adhering to a low glycemic diet, which means eating foods that take a long time to digest. This will ensure consistent fuel is available to the brain without pulling it from muscle tissue or liver storage.

– Regular Exercise: Physical exercise is equally good for the body and the brain. The extra blood flow into the brain helps promote healing, plasticity, and waste removal. It also improves neurotransmitter release, which helps with mood, motivation, and sleep. Lastly, the frontal lobes benefit from a surge of extra input because of the massive amount of input through the cerebellum. The frontal lobes are responsible for executive functions like planning, motivation, and goal setting. Anything you can do to support the frontal lobes will give you the most bang for your buck in terms of brain health.

– Adequate Sleep: Getting high-quality sleep is the best thing you can do to improve brain function. Sleep is when memories are stored, and most of the reorganization happens. All these things take energy unavailable when you’re awake during the day, so ensuring your brain has the necessary resources to repair and rejuvenate will pay off 10-fold. Some tips to improve sleep include:
-Go to bed and wake up around the same time every day
-3-2-1 rule: No food 3 hours before bed, no bright lights 2 hours before bed, and no screen time 1 hour before bed
-Get direct sunlight into your eyes immediately upon waking
-Keep the sleeping environment slightly cool

Conclusion

While the brain is not a muscle, it does share some similar traits. They both respond and change their structure based on what you do with them. In the same way, lifting something heavy will make your arms bigger; regularly choosing tasks that challenge your brain can cause it to reorganize itself and make thicker connections between regions to handle the challenge better. In that sense, the brain often behaves like a muscle, albeit by much different mechanisms.

If you have questions about ways to optimize your brain health, click here to schedule a complimentary consultation with one of our doctors. We’ve treated hundreds of complex neurologic cases and can help identify the missing pieces in your recovery.

*Note: The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute a doctor-patient relationship. Patients are advised to consult their medical provider or primary care physician before trying any remedies or therapies at home.