What is the difference between the brain and the mind?

[msc545]

[RavVid]

The brain is certainly akin to computer hardware BUT it is self-modifying hardware. That is what brain or neural plasticity is referring to. So quite different to contemporary lap top or phone computer hardware.

(Computer neural nets are more deliberately intended to resemble our brain. Machine learning could be thought of as a neural net).

Since what you think is changing the hardware and potentially what you think, in my view, it is a little hard to say the mind is the software and the brain is the hardware. There is a computer concept of self modifying code ie the code that is running is modifying the code that is running to run differently. That is a bit closer to neural plasticity.

I would suggest the mind is more analogous to computer output eg "That hot girl wants me... Phoar... but I shouldn't cheat on my girlfriend as she is quite a good one and she will dump me if she finds out. Plus it is wrong to cheat". The output is what you are aware of.

Bear in mind too that our brain is doing multiple things at once. We are still far from doing that well on computers. Plus there is feedback which neural nets don't have eg "That girl is so hot I'll never get another opportunity my whole life to have sex with such hotness. I'm going in & stuff the girlfriend".

Whilst the analogy with our brains, thinking and mind has been there since the advent of electronic computing I don't think it is all that helpful in understanding those three concepts. Then there are the concepts of self awareness and sentience which computers just don't have but we do.

So I'll plump for the mind being the output of whatever computing is going on.

[Derekk]

A mind is usually taken to represent your conscious experience. A secular soul if you will. The software. A brain is the hardware.

[msc545]

what is "conscious experience" ?

[Derekk]

Conscious experience is qualia. It's the feeling of being what it is like to be something. Mental substance that is constituted by thoughts, sensations, dreams, ideas, etc.

[WonderBell99]

I'd like to think both go hand in hand. They are separate entities, but influenced by each other. Kind of like inseparable.

Mind is more of a mental thing. Brain or encephalon if you prefer, is a physical term. The former deals with consciousness, feelings etc. Brain deals with coordination, emotions, movements etc. Mind is intangible, it cannot be touched or seen, but you can certainly feel it.

[msc545]

Is the brain a sort of hardware somehow operated by the mind? Or the inverse?

[WonderBell99]

Sort of, yes. Your mind is closely related to your thought process and actions, your brain does not force you to do anything. You make the conscious effort to do something.

[Sorrento-Sun]

I'd say the brain is an organ , and your mind is your thinking processes and mindset

[msc545]

Yes, that is a difference, but it doesn't really address functions.

[Sorrento-Sun]

You asked the difference only though. Lol The brain helps our body to function. If someone is brain dead, their body and mind can't function. If someone is brain damaged, they may be able to still think, but not in the same way as someone who isn't brain damaged

[msc545]

How do you know that any of this is accurate? I don't find it funny by the way.

[Sorrento-Sun]

The lol was to show I'm not being offensive or rude towards you. I meant it in the nicest possible way. Because too many people on here take offence too easily over something they've misinterpreted.
I've read it in medical books. And heard medical experts talking indepth about it.

[msc545]

I am not sure medical experts (I am one) know much more about this topic than anyone else.

[Sorrento-Sun]

I'd trust they do over someone who isn't

[msc545]

I would not.

[NathanDavis]

hmm...

I would put it like this, the mind is actions, and the brain is reactions...

for example a couple of nights ago in which my cat Luna sneaked into my office, total darkness except for the screens' brightness, never really noticed her to reach and sit by my side and then she just loudly whined for food and she startled me because I was not expecting that at all

so, my brain reacted right away like WTF! but in the same split fraction of a second my mind went like WTF... that's Luna, my cat, nothing else... and then I just chuckled

so the brain reacts and will process but the mind will process and become your conscious self through, your brain and your body... and then it is all back and forth

[AviatorTom]

The brain is the physical organ, while the mind is the collection of contents (personality, memories, thoughts) within a person. There is some recent theories that the mind may not be stored completely within the brain (as traditionally believed) but parts of the mind may be found in other parts of the body as well.

[blissinanarchy1]

Your brain is the organ that controls your thinking processes, your involuntary processes, and regulates memory, learning, etc. Your mind is the conscious “pilot” or “driver” of your brain, directing processes you’re in control of, manifesting your personality reactions, and emotions.

[msc545]

Where is your mind located, and how did it come about?

[On_cloud_wine]

You mean brain is composed of brain cells.. and you can touch it. The mind, you can not.

[On_cloud_wine]

The brain*

[msc545]

What do you think the mind is comprised of?

[On_cloud_wine]

I would say the heart and mind seem more comparable, not equal though... hmmm… the mind... That part of the human being in which thought takes place, and perception, and decisions to do good or evil..

[msc545]

Yes, but what is it made of? Is it visible? Where is it located?

[On_cloud_wine]

It’s my soul, my spirit.. some things just can’t be explained.

[exitseven]

The brain is like a physical hard drive and the mind is all the data that is stored on it.

[msc545]

what creates the software?

[exitseven]

some of it comes from a built in partition and some come from assorted inputs.

[Chazmatazz269]

The brain is the hardware. The mind is the software.

[msc545]

good metaphor! Who or what writes that software? I am stuck there.

[Chazmatazz269]

That’s the old “nature vs nurture” debate. I’m convinced it’s a bit of both. Some things come naturally to us thanks to genetics. Other things are learned, sometimes very subtly.
My mother divorced my father and kept me from him until i was old enough to make the decision to know my father for myself. I was absolutely flabbergasted by some of the ways we were very much alike despite his inability to be a bigger part of my upbringing.

[msc545]

What is the mind composed of?

[On_cloud_wine]

There were these twins who were separated at birth and they didn’t meet eachother until they were more elderly.. they had the same fashion style and personality and hair cut..

[Chazmatazz269]

I don’t think anyone really knows. You’d probably want spiritual guidance on the matter.

[On_cloud_wine]

God knows.

[goaded]

The brain is the grey mass in your head, the mind is the emergent property of the chemicals and electrical signals in your body that make you sentient. The mind doesn't exist without the brain.

[josephinelcajon]

Brain is the organ your mind is your data (thoughts feelings memories likes and dislikes)

[msc545]

What creates the mind, and where is it located?

[josephinelcajon]

experiences create it and it is not tangible. They say the body loses three-fourths of an ounce upon death this is our soul/mind leaving our bodies. Where it goes is up to your beliefs.

[msc545]

How do you know any of that?

[josephinelcajon]

mindmatters.ai/.../

[msc545]

With all due respect I really don't think we can consider that to be a reliable source

[jshm2]

Brain is the organ, mind is what it generates when functional.

[VV3ZZY]

The brain is an animal. The mind is just a creation of the brain.

[Jamie05rhs]

The brain is physical. The mind is intangible.

[Anonymous]

Brain is the hardware. Mind is the software.

[msc545]

Nice metaphor! Who wrote the software?

[lphin]

Let simplify it


Brain is hardware
Mind is software 😉

[USLegionary]

Hardware vs software