Overview

• Researchers at the California Institute of Technology found that human thought operates at a rate of 10 bits per second, a fraction of the speed of sensory data processing and modern Wi-Fi connections.
• The study highlights a paradox: while the brain processes sensory information rapidly, it filters this data down to a slow, single-threaded stream for conscious decision-making.
• Scientists suggest this 'speed limit' may have evolved as an optimal mechanism for survival, allowing early humans to focus on one path or decision at a time in their environment.
• The findings indicate that while our brains are powerful in some respects, they are outpaced by machines in tasks requiring rapid, parallel information processing.
• Published in the journal Neuron, the research raises questions about the limitations of human cognition and how these insights could influence the development of artificial intelligence.