El cerebro. Manual de usuario

It´s a gelatinous mass the size of a bunch of grapes and the consistency of crème caramel. 80% water and 20% proteins and fats, it appears upholstered by a folded 3 mm thick sheet of tissue which was described, more than 3500 years ago in an Egyptian papyrus as “copper melting in a crucible”. If spread, it would cover an area of 1500 cm2. The human brain, the pinnacle of evolution, the conscience´s hardware, the most perfect machine in the universe. Neurons: more than 86 million living tightly packed inside our brain, having 5000 to 15,000 connections each, and communicates with the rest via a million and a half fine organic cables, assuming the management of vital functions such as temperature regulation, breathing and sleep or the control of movements and sexual desire. But how has the brain evolved to be what it is? How does it work? How does consciousness arise? And language? Why do we dream? What do our brains do to build reality? Where is intelligence located? Does the mind have superpowers? What does creativity depend on? Why does the brain get sick? Is it capable of self-repair? Will artificial intelligence surpass the capabilities of the human mind?