Why Can't the Brain Be Restarted? The Unsolvable Mystery

The Complexity of the Human Brain

Well, here’s a thought: Why can’t the brain be restarted? It’s something I’ve wondered about many times, especially after seeing so many technological advancements—rebooting phones, restarting computers, but we can’t simply hit a "restart" button for the brain, right? Seems like there’s a deeper reason behind this that goes beyond technology, and honestly, it has to do with how incredibly complex the brain is.

The brain is an organ made up of billions of neurons, each connected by trillions of synapses. That’s a lot of information to process and store. So, while we may be able to reboot a machine, the human brain works on a level that’s far beyond any technology we currently have.

The Brain's Intricate Wiring

Imagine your brain as a city’s traffic system. Each neuron is a car, and the synapses are the roads that connect them. Now, when something goes wrong in this system—whether it’s damage from a stroke, trauma, or disease—the "traffic" can get messed up. And unlike a computer or phone, where rebooting can clear up a lot of problems, the brain’s systems can’t just be reset with a simple press of a button.

It’s one of the reasons why I get frustrated when people assume that brain injuries or mental health issues can just be “fixed” easily. It’s not about hitting restart—there’s so much more to it.

What Happens When the Brain Is "Shutdown"?

Honestly, it’s not just about the brain being shut down, it’s about how different parts of the brain control different functions. If one area of the brain stops working, it can affect your ability to speak, move, or even breathe. This makes the idea of restarting the brain even more complicated.

Brain Damage vs. Brain "Reboot"

I remember a conversation I had with a friend who suffered a concussion. They were telling me how, after the injury, they felt completely disconnected from their usual self. It was like their brain "shut down" for a while, and even with time, they couldn’t just “reboot” and go back to normal. What we don’t realize is that when the brain experiences damage or trauma, the damage can be long-lasting, often irreversible.

In some cases, when someone suffers brain damage, it’s like losing access to certain files in a computer. You can't just restart and expect everything to be restored. The information, memories, and skills controlled by the damaged part may be lost or altered forever.

The Brain and Its Limitations

You might think, “Well, if we can make artificial intelligence reboot, why not the brain?” Here’s the catch: Artificial intelligence, though powerful, is still limited to the algorithms it’s built on. It’s nowhere near the complexity of the human brain. Our brain is organic, with emotions, experiences, and memories that shape who we are, and it operates on a level of bioelectricity that’s incredibly difficult to replicate or reset.

The Brain’s Self-Repair: A Slow Process

One thing that’s often overlooked is the brain’s ability to repair itself to some degree. This is called neuroplasticity. After an injury, the brain can rewire itself to work around the damaged areas, but this process takes time and isn’t perfect. It's like trying to reroute a busy highway—traffic might be slower, but it doesn’t mean the system will work like it did before the accident. This ability to heal is why some people can regain lost abilities after brain injuries, but it's far from a "reset."

Why Technology Can’t Help Yet

I remember reading about breakthroughs in brain-computer interfaces and thinking, "Wow, maybe this is the future." But even with these technologies, we’re not talking about a full reboot of the brain. We’re still only scratching the surface when it comes to understanding how to fix or replace parts of the brain. The complexities of human thought, emotion, and memory are deeply tied to our biology in ways we can’t simply replicate.

The Role of Consciousness and Identity

Here’s something that always makes me stop and think: If we could somehow “restart” the brain, would the person still be the same? Would the memories, personality, and consciousness remain intact? The brain is not just a processor—it’s where our sense of self, our thoughts, and our identity live. It’s what makes us us.

Personal Identity and Memory: Fragile Yet Profound

I’ll never forget talking to a colleague about memory loss in patients with Alzheimer’s. It hit me that if we could “reset” the brain, it might wipe away not only the problems but also the very essence of who someone is. That’s why, even though we can try to heal or fix damaged parts of the brain, a full restart seems impossible—it would erase so much more than we realize.

Conclusion: The Brain's "Unrebootable" Nature

Honestly, after thinking about all this, I’ve come to the conclusion that the brain isn’t like a machine we can just restart. It's an intricate, complex, and delicate system that cannot simply be reset at will. While science has made incredible strides in understanding how to treat brain injuries and illnesses, the idea of rebooting the brain is still beyond us.

So, can we ever restart the brain? Not really—not in the way we hope. But we can care for it, protect it, and, in many cases, help it heal over time. It’s a slow process, but with the right care, the brain can recover, adapt, and continue to function, though it will never be as simple as pressing a button.

Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?

The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.