Why does the Human brain make mistakes?

Question

This question is a purely scientific one. It is common knowledge that a computer will continue to compute a given problem in the same manner, and the result will always be the same. Because the human brain must work in a similar manner to that of a computer, why is it that the human can make errors? Is the brain nothing more than a calculating "machine?"

Answer 1

Human brain and computer  brain, CPU, are not the same and  do not have to work the same. They are two different entity specially in composition, one is organic and the other is not. Although they are similarities, but   human brain is much more complex and responds different kinds of stimuli and is much  more multi functional than   most computers.  

Scientifically, the world was not created on black and white or on  right or wrong basis. The concept of right or wrong is relative and specially designed to help humans  to comprehend certain aspects of  the Nature and Universe.

Oops, i just read your additional comments, in terms of calculations, is   mainly due to fatigue an availability of certain conditions such  availabilities of nutrients, transmitters, hormones or circuits of neurons responsible for calculating.

Answer 2

Wow, those are some pretty good answers. (seriously)

I did see on one part that said (this is a testament to evolution)

(I would have to disagree)

Keep in mind everything in the other answers except the evolution comment. I think that they were right on with all of it.

Now let me throw some junk into the mix.

Some other points to think about would be.

"They say" (whatever that means) that we only use 10% of our brain.

I believe in creation, instead of us starting off dumb and getting bigger and better and smarter. I think that when humans were created we were able to use much more of our brains and probably use it better in every way. Yes they were smarter but we had more time and even though we have more technology, that doesn't imply overall intelligents.

Most technology was made by a very small percent of the population and the growth curve is exponential. As we have seen.

I also don't really know if the most important intent of our brain is to always do straight calculations, so if we struggle doing something, like perfect memorization, I think that it may never have been the highest priority intention. I do think that most of what we would think about as calculations and memory were intended though because some people excel at these things more that others. I think that it was lost for most but held on in dormant and recessive traits for others. Think of dogs, some can smell better than others, some can point, some can retrieve better. They all came from a common dog, the original had all these abilities to a certain level and pre-programmed variation of expression of this. And no, the dog and the acorn are not related.

After you make a copy off from a copy off from a copy, ect. for 6500 years, the system tends to break down. I think it is a testimony to the awesome design that it still works after all that time and copying.

The shear complexity of life and especially the brain is marvelous.

Answer 3

There's a lot going on in the brain, lots of hormones and chemicals, etc. and there's a whole wide world of distracting stimuli around us.  If one of those hormones or chemicals get just a tiny bit off, or if one of those stimuli distract us just enough, then everything is thrown off.  The brain makes mistakes precisely because it is NOT a machine.

Answer 4

The computer does billions of calculations very quickly without a single error because _that's what it was designed to do_. It was built to serve that exact purpose. It does nothing else.

On the other hand, the primary purpose of the human brain is to keep the body's systems working properly. And, it does a very good job of that. Unless you suffer brain damage (and of course you can also break a computer physically) or you absorb poisons or infectious agents (computers can get viruses, too) your internal systems will probably continue to work properly even into your eighties (although, with reduced efficiency). When they finally stop working, it's usually not a problem with the brain.

The use of the brain for problem-solving is undertaken only by higher mammals, and especially by humans. But, what programs the brain to think intelligently? Our brains themselves. The fact that our brains work as well as they do is a testament to the power of evolution.

Answer 5

The reality of it all is nothing in the Universe is perfect so why should our brains be special

Answer 6

In general terms, it's because the "input" that your brain receives is vastly more complex than the input that a computer receives, and the "output" that your brain is capable of producing (movement, thought, calculation, sound, etc.) is infinitely more complex than that of a computer.

This means that although a computer will perform the same operation on the same input to produce the same output over and over and over again, the human brain (or any biological 'computer') is not in the same category as a computer because the same situation never, ever occurs twice. Skiing down a mountain is never exactly the same as the last time, so the brain is always prone to errors. The more you ski, the more your brain understands the process necessary for success, which lessons the "chance" of a mistake. But your brain can never account for every single possible scenario going down that slope.

The versatility of the human brain combined with the infinite complexity of the environment with which it interacts is why the brain makes mistakes. Computers, on the other hand, will do exactly what they are told (programmed) to do, over and over and over again, without learning, and without making an error.