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Figure 2: Comparison between the functioning of the internet and our brain.

The brain network

The organization of the brain can be compared to our glass fiber internet network, which consists of connected cables stretching around the globe. In our brains, the cables interconnect not countries, cities and villages, but our organs and muscles together with the different brain centers to conduct our daily functioning. The cables are made up of cells, called neurons, which stretch themselves to make interactions and networks with neighbouring cells.

Neurons control our brain activity by transferring information very quickly over big distances using electrical signals, called action potentials. These electrical signals form the basis for every breath, movement or heartbeat we make. Neurons need to be isolated from the rest of the body in order to function properly, since the electrical signals are very sensitive to changes in the composition of the fluid that surrounds them.