A second is the most fleeting of moments, but it can also seem like an eternity. That’s because time is relative; it’s impossible to measure its passage with a stopwatch.

On average, the human brain will process 40 million bits of information every second — that’s 100 billion bits per day. But these are just estimates based on what little we know about how brain cells function.

At any given moment, our brains process about 20 grams (0.7 ounces) of information, which includes sights, sounds and smells. And there are only so many things we can take in before our brains start to get overloaded.

According to an article published by science magazine Nautilus, when your brain gets overloaded with new stimuli from too many things happening at once, it shuts down some features so it can focus on others. For example, if you’re watching TV with someone who’s talking on the phone in another room, neither activity will be as enjoyable as if they were separate activities performed alone or together.”

Last modified: October 12, 2022