What Can You Do Without a Brain?

In reality, the brain plays a crucial role in performing various tasks, and without it, one's ability to accomplish anything is severely limited. Therefore, one might question the existence of a "no-brainer." Let's explore the concept of decapitation, albeit a rather morbid topic. However, let's not be deterred. In 1945, farmer Lloyd Olsen embarked on a quest to procure a chicken for dinner. He proceeded to sever the chicken's head, yet to his astonishment, it did not perish. This headless chicken, known as Mike, defied all odds and continued to live for another 18 months. Mike The Headless Chicken embarked on a nationwide tour, leaving spectators in awe. Remarkably, he could walk, perch, and sustain himself by ingesting small droplets of water or grains. However, it is important to note that Mike's actions were not entirely instinctual, as he still possessed a portion of his brain stem, albeit lacking a substantial "head."

To obtain a more straightforward and obvious example, we can examine a simpler organism: the cockroach. Unlike us, these creatures do not rely on breathing through their heads. Instead, they have tiny openings scattered all over their bodies for respiration. Additionally, rather than possessing a large and complex brain, they have clusters of nerves called ganglia distributed throughout their bodies. Surprisingly, even if a cockroach is completely decapitated, it can continue to live for several weeks. It can move around and even respond to stimuli, with its only limitation being eventual starvation without a head. Unfortunately, humans are not as fortunate. Without a head and brain, we would perish within seconds, if not instantly. However, it is important to note that even with our heads intact, we are capable of certain actions that do not necessarily require the involvement of the brain, such as reflexes.

When you snap your finger, it moves at a speed of approximately 20 mph. Similarly, a forceful sneeze can expel air at a velocity of nearly 30-40 mph. However, nerve impulses are even faster, clocking in at 250 mph. Nevertheless, there are situations where this speed is insufficient. For example, when you accidentally touch a hot stove, cells start dying rapidly. In such cases, a speed of 250 mph is inadequate, and immediate action is necessary. It is not worth waiting to inform your brain about the situation. Instead, your immediate reaction to pull away is facilitated by other components of your nervous system. The same principle applies to involuntary and unconscious processes. Therefore, these reflexive behaviors can be considered instinctive actions that require no conscious thought.

No-brainers are often considered simple and obvious decisions or actions. However, I still find them unsatisfactory because they still require the presence of a functioning brain to keep you alive. But what if you were no longer alive? In a lifeless and brainless body, there is still a small amount of energy stored in the muscle cells in the form of ATP. On YouTube, Backyard Brains demonstrates this phenomenon using insect parts. Even though the leg is no longer connected to a brain or body, energy remains in the cells. As a result, researchers can detect electrical signals when the leg is touched or even when it is simply breathed on. "The popping sound you hear is the spontaneous discharge rate of the living neurons in the still-living leg." The muscle cells of a human limb would respond in a similar manner. However, it is not necessary to use wires to observe this behavior. Salt can also produce similar effects. The introduction of sodium ions can trigger a process similar to an action potential in a living organism. When salt is added to fresh frog legs, they start to move, although this movement is short-lived. Eventually, the cells will run out of energy or decay. Nevertheless, there are several other brief phenomena that can be considered no-brainers at the moment of death. For example, muscles relaxing and causing a person to soil themselves. Technically, this is a no-brainer. However, it is a misconception that a corpse continues to grow fingernails and hair.

However, let us examine these skin cells more closely, as we may have stumbled upon a rather straightforward solution. Your skin cells reside on the outermost layer of your body and do not rely on a constant supply of nutrients from your bloodstream. Therefore, even in death, when your brain is no longer in control, your skin cells can persist, obtaining nourishment through osmosis and undergoing division for extended periods. Remarkably, it is possible to extract skin cells from a deceased individual after a mere 24 hours. On a related matter - digestion. Undoubtedly, a significant portion of the digestive process is facilitated by your living state and a functioning nervous system. However, a portion of this task is carried out by bacteria that naturally inhabit your gastrointestinal tract. Consequently, when you pass away or lose brain function, these bacteria will continue their digestive activities. Hence, it can be said that the production of feces, at least in part, is an effortless process.

However, let's consider this. The bacteria residing within your body are indeed foreign bacteria. Are they an integral part of your identity? Similarly, what about the skin cells that persist even after your demise? Are they truly a part of you, or are they simply cells that have found a favorable environment within your body? These questions delve into the realm of philosophy, as we ponder whether you are solely defined by your brain and the activities it orchestrates. Does everything else that occurs in your body after the absence of a brain become inconsequential, mere actions that you are no longer responsible for? One could argue that without a brain, your body no longer carries out your intentions. It no longer performs actions because you have consciously chosen to do so. In essence, engaging in something that requires no thought or decision-making may be impossible for you, as it necessitates the absence of your influence.

If your identity is solely determined by the functioning of your brain and not by the independent actions of your cells when the brain is absent, then one could argue that being alive and being yourself is a matter of logical affirmation.