The human brain, which is often referred to as the greatest achievement in the course of evolution, surprisingly cannot process information as fast as the amount of sensory data it is exposed to. The peripheral nervous system takes environmental information at a rate of over 1 billion bits per second, while our brains can process only 10 bits per second, according to a new research published in the journal Neuron. This discrepancy reveals fascinating insights into human cognition and raises profound questions about how we perceive and interact with the world. At first glance, the brain's ability to process just 10 bits per second may seem underwhelming.

For perspective, this rate pales in comparison to modern internet speeds. "We become annoyed when the WiFi in our home falls to 100 megabits per second because this interferes with streaming shows on Netflix," according to the authors of the study, Caltech's Jieyu Zheng and Markus Meister. In stark contrast, the human brain processes a billion-bit data stream at dial-up internet speed, yet manages to work reasonably well in real-time applications. To reach this number, the scientists considered tasks such as solving Rubik's Cubes or memorizing shuffled decks of cards. Dividing the number of bits for these tasks by the time needed to complete them, they determined that even memory champions who set record times process information at the same snail's pace of 10 bits per second.

Why is Brain Processing So Slow?

This seems a strange limitation for the brain's filtering mechanism. If a single neuron can wire at a rate fast enough to encode 10 bits per second, why does the brain, with its billions of neurons, still process information at such a restricted rate? The study suggests that this is evolutionary, based on the very survival tasks early organisms had to complete.

The first nervous systems, intended to guide creatures towards food or away from predators, had to function on a one-task-at-a-time basis. This single-task focus enabled prompt, decisive action. Modern humans, despite the ability to abstractly think, may have been left with this limitation. Even in such complex tasks that require multitasking, like driving, the brain is essentially juggling its attention between distinct subtasks rather than processing them simultaneously.

Dual-Mode Operation of the Brain

According to the authors, the human brain works on two modes at once. That is, as follows:

1. Outer Brain: It perceives and aggregates tremendous amounts of sensory data-the colors, the sounds, and the textures surrounding the environment.

2. Inner Brain: A minuscule fraction of the same data at a concentrated pace of 10 bits per second gets processed.

The frontier for neuroscience is to understand how these two systems communicate. When driving, the brain is switching focus constantly from traffic signals to the speedometer to potential hazards. Future research could unravel how the "inner brain" decides which bits to prioritize in those high-stakes scenarios.

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'Cocktail Party Problem' in the Brain

Humans' inability to process multiple trains of thought simultaneously, popularly known as the "cocktail party problem," underscores this limitation. For instance, it is almost impossible to follow multiple conversations simultaneously at a noisy gathering. Evolution may have optimized the nervous system for making a single decision at a time-an advantage when survival depended on determining whether to fight or flee.

Today, the single-minded quality of this cognitive system helps sustain attention but impedes our capacity to multitask. This particular evolutionary trade-off continues to mold the human mind; it affects every aspect of it, from linguistic processing to dealing with high-stress situations.

How Does the Brian Breaks Down Language Processing?

Another experiment gives a clear view of how the brain processes information in speech. Scientists, by using electrodes implanted in the brains of patients suffering from epilepsy, found that it takes the brain 600 milliseconds to think of a word, apply grammatical rules, and say it.

They recorded activity in Broca's area—a critical region for language production—and identified three distinct steps:

Word Recall: Occurring at 200 milliseconds.

Application of Grammar: Takes 320 milliseconds to occur.

Phonology or Sound Organization: Takes 450 milliseconds to occur.

This further supports that the brain operates on a step-by-step approach. Amazing as it might be able to generate speech continuously in a span of milliseconds, the brain's operation does follow a strictly linear approach; its bottleneck of 10 bits per second does not differ from one activity to another.

This new understanding of the brain's speed limit opens doors for further research. How does the inner brain prioritize specific tasks? How might this bottleneck influence artificial intelligence systems designed to mimic human thought processes?

Implications stretch beyond neuroscience. In the era of multitasking, this study underlines the importance of attentional focus. As Zheng so aptly put it, study of real-life situations like driving may be one of the best ways to learn how the brain accommodates changing priorities in real-time.

How You Can Improve Your Brain's Mental Flexibility

Improving the speed of your thoughts and processing requires improving cognitive functions and strategies that enhance mental agility. Here are some ways to optimize your brain's processing power:

Regular Exercise: Physical activity promotes better blood flow to the brain, enhancing cognitive functions. Aerobic exercises like running or swimming improve memory and focus, allowing for quicker thinking.

Mindfulness and Meditation: The practice of mindfulness meditation enhances attention and reduces mental clutter. They help train your brain to focus on one task at a time, thus enhancing processing efficiency.

Mental Stimulation: Engage in activities that challenge your brain, such as puzzles, memory games, or learning a new skill. These exercises stimulate neural connections, sharpening your processing speed.

Adequate Sleep: Sleep is important for cognitive function. The brain is best able to process information quickly and efficiently when it is well rested.

Healthy Diet: A diet rich in antioxidants, omega-3s, and vitamins supports brain health, enhancing overall mental speed.

This is counterintuitive, for the brain takes in information at a mere 10 bits per second, but such is the depth and efficiency of human cognition that it can work through this very effectively. Extraneous data will be filtered out, and focus will be placed where it matters the most: survival, adaptation, and communication.

Although our mental "speed limit" may be maddening for those who multitask, it speaks to the stunning advancement of the human mind—a machine designed for clarity, precision, and survival in an overwhelmingly complex world.

The unbearable slowness of being: Why do we live at 10bits/s? Neuron. 2024

For most parents, the toddler years are filled with first words, wobbly steps and dreams of the future. For Gus and Emily Forrester, those moments are now overshadowed by a diagnosis they describe as “every parent’s worst nightmare.”

Their two-year-old daughter, Leni, has been diagnosed with Sanfilippo Syndrome Type B, a rare genetic condition often referred to as childhood dementia. The disorder, formally known as Mucopolysaccharidosis type III, gradually robs children of their physical and cognitive abilities.

In an interview with ITV News, Leni’s parents spoke about the devastating reality of the condition, which has no approved cure or widely available treatment.

“All your dreams for your child's future are taken away,” her mother, Emily, said. “To be told that she has this condition, and there is no treatment and no cure and no support… it’s completely earth-shattering.”

What Is Childhood Dementia?

Sanfilippo Syndrome is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by the body’s inability to break down certain complex sugars. Over time, these substances build up in the brain, leading to progressive damage.

According to Cure Sanfilippo Foundation, symptoms usually begin appearing between the ages of one and six. Children may initially show mild developmental delays, but the disease gradually worsens, affecting speech, mobility and behaviour.

As the condition advances, many children lose the ability to talk, walk and recognise loved ones. Life expectancy is often limited to the early teenage years.

Emily explained the process in stark terms. Without treatment, she said, Leni’s body will slowly be overwhelmed by “toxic waste,” causing irreversible damage.

The Urgency of Early Treatment

For families like the Forresters, time is not just precious, it is critical.

“Early treatment is key for these children,” Emily said. “If she has to wait six months, that could mean she can no longer talk. If she waits 12 months, that could mean she loses the ability to walk.”

Although experimental therapies, including gene-based approaches, are being developed, access remains a major hurdle. Some clinical trials are expected to take place in the United States later this year, but Leni is not currently eligible.

Her parents are now campaigning for UK patients to be included in these trials, arguing that promising science already exists but remains out of reach for many families.

A Family's Fight For Hope

In response to the diagnosis, the Forresters have launched a fundraiser to support Leni’s care and potential treatment options. They have also pledged to donate part of the funds to Great Ormond Street Hospital, where Leni is receiving care, and to the Cure Sanfilippo Foundation, which supports affected families.

So far, donations have crossed $250,000, reflecting the growing awareness and concern around rare childhood conditions.

Leni’s father, Gus, said the emotional toll of the diagnosis is hard to put into words. “As parents, your role is to protect your children and provide every opportunity you can. Without any treatment, her future and her reality is very, very dark.”

Beyond fundraising, the couple is also raising awareness about childhood dementia and advocating for newborn screening programmes that could help detect such conditions earlier.

Experts working on experimental therapies say greater government investment is urgently needed. Without it, many children may never benefit from treatments that could slow or alter the course of the disease.

For now, Leni remains a cheerful two-year-old, full of life and affection. But for her parents, every passing day is a reminder of how quickly that could change, and how urgently answers are needed.

Every year, March 24 is observed as World Tuberculosis Day to spread awareness about the infectious disease. In India, it remains one of the most pressing infectious diseases. Dr Arup Halder, Consultant Pomologist at CK Birla Hospitals, CMRI says that India still accounts for roughly a quarter to over a quarter of world's tuberculosis or TB cases. "In 2023–2024, India reported around 25–26 lakh TB patients out of an estimated 27 lakh cases, reflecting improved detection but also highlighting a persistently high burden," he points out.

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While TB incidence has fallen by about 20 per cent since 2015 and mortality has also declined to roughly 21 deaths per lakh population, it still remains well above national elimination targets for 2025.

TB Could Happen Even Without A Persistent Cough

What makes TB so difficult to eliminate? While many associate TB with persistent coughing, studies show that 80 per cent of patients do not show the symptoms of cough that is "presumed" to be a common symptom. This is why, TB could go ignored until it is too late.

A research led by Amsterdam UMC and the Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development analyzed data on more than 600,000 individuals in Africa and Asia and found that around 82.8 per cent of those with TB had no persistent cough. The study also found that 62.5 per cent had no cough at all. The findings were published in the Lancet Infectious Diseases.

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The study in fact noted that this could be the "probable reason why, despite huge efforts to diagnose and treat the disease, the tb burden across Africa and Asia is hardly declining". Frank Cobelens, Professor of Global Health at Amsterdam UMC and Senior Fellow at the AIGHD says, "A persistent cough is often the entry point for a diagnosis, but if 80 per cent of those with TB do not have one, then it means that a diagnosis will happen later, possibly after the infection has already been transmitted to many others, or not at all."

Another 2019 study published in Elsevier notes: "Coughing does not appear to be a necessary prerequisite for TB transmission." The study further mentions, "Frequency of cough is associated with infectivity but this does not imply mechanistic causality for TB transmission."

Does It Mean Coughing Is Harmless?

The simple answer to this is: No. Coughing does not mean harmless, especially when it is a persistent one. The study only shows that TB does not always mean persistent coughing, however, if one experiences this symptom, they should always get a test done and should not ignore the symptoms.

Researchers from The University of Texas at Dallas' Center for Advanced Pain Studies working with colleagues from UT Southwestern Medical Center note that TB coughing could cause pain. This is one of the way one can distinguish the symptoms. The findings published in journal Cell notes that before this study, "no one had even shown that TB produces an irritant that acts directly on the sensory innervation of the lungs".

Corresponding author Dr Michael Shiloh, associate professor of internal medicine and microbiology at UT Southwestern said, "People with active tuberculosis can cough for months and spread disease even when they are receiving appropriate treatment."

Read: World Tuberculosis Day 2026: Theme, Origin, And Significance

What Is India Doing To Control TB Cases?

On World TB Day, President Droupadi Murmu stressed that TB continues to pose a significant public health challenge and has affected millions of lives across the world. She urged all stakeholders to work together with collective resolve to end TB once for all.

To act on it, Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda will launch a series of initiatives, including 'TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan - 100 Days Campaign', the TB Mukt Bharat App, and the TB Mukt Urban Ward Initiative. These measures are designed to strengthen the case detection, improve treatment adherence, and enhance last-mile delivery of TB services, especially in high-burden areas. The initiatives have also been aligned with the objectives of the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme.

From physical problems like fatigue and vision problems, people who survive the deadly bacterial meningitis are likely to live with long-term fatigue and vision problems, as well as be at high risk of suicide, according to a new study.

The study comes as the UK is experiencing an outbreak of meningitis in Kent, that began among students who visited Club Chemistry in Canterbury between March 5 and 7.

Although bacterial meningitis is treatable, it requires prompt, often immediate treatment for better recovery. Yet patients are likely to face the risk of fatal or long-term complications -- from physical, psychological, and social impacts, said researchers from the University of Otago, The Conversation reported.

The new findings, based on 16 cases from New Zealand, who reportedly suffered the fatal disease, showed that multiple chronic after-effects is permanent in some, while in others, it dragged on for years. The effects include:

• fatigue,
• difficulties with concentration,
• memory and emotional regulation,
• persistent headaches,
• issues with mobility, vision, and hearing.

• anxiety,
• depression
• suicidality.

"Our findings demonstrate that bacterial meningitis is much more than a life-threatening infection. It is an acute disease with serious, chronic after-effects which are poorly understood and often go unrecognised," the researchers said.

Kent Meningitis Outbreak

The bug that causes the infection has been identified as the known strain of meningitis B, and MenB vaccines will be offered to 5,000 students living in the University of Kent halls of residence in Canterbury.

Meanwhile, the UKHSA chief executive, Susan Hopkins, said the outbreak "looks like a super-spreader" event with "ongoing spread" through universities' halls of residence.

"There will have been some parties, particularly around this, so there will have been lots of social mixing. I can't yet say where the initial infection came from, how it's got into this cohort, and why it's created such an explosive amount of infections," she added.

As per Trish Mannes, UKHSA Regional Deputy Director for the South East, even after two doses, the MenB vaccine “does not protect against all strains of meningococcal disease, nor against all infections that can cause meningitis. It also does not prevent the bacteria from being carried and spread in the community”.

The UKHSA thus warned people to be aware of the signs and symptoms of invasive meningococcal disease, and to seek immediate medical attention if they or anyone they know develops these signs and symptoms.

Common symptoms include:

• rash
• sudden onset of high fever
• severe and worsening headache
• vomiting and diarrhea
• joint and muscle pain
• seizures.