Have you ever wondered why that one student in class scores better than you every time, even though you’ve studied better? Have you ever experienced forgetfulness and didn’t understand the difference between you and someone else, who seems to only need to read a paragraph once and somehow remembers everything for years? Does this come down to intelligence, some hidden mental advantage, or is it really just genetics that puts some people ahead?
The truth is, some people are born with a head start — maybe better working memory, maybe sharper pattern recognition. But the good news is, it has nothing to do with superpowers. It has everything to do with how they use the full potential of their brain. And the even better news? You can too.
To understand what makes some brains perform better, or why some people appear smarter or more efficient, we need to understand how the brain is actually built.
how a brain is wired
1: A schematic drawing of the human brain, indicating the two main… | Download Scientific Diagram
Access the original on ResearchGate
To first understand what makes some brains perform better or some people appear more intelligent or good at memorizing, we need to understand how our brain is actually built. So here’s a simple overview:
- Grey Matter: The grey matter is the outer, pinkish-grey layer of the brain and covers pretty much the majority of our day-to-day thinking and cognitive processing. This layer is made up of neuronal cell bodies that are part of the central nervous system. The grey matter covers different regions in your brain, such as:
- Language
- Memory
- Emotion
- Attention
- Motor skills
- Decision-making
- White Matter: The white matter is the inner part of the brain, containing myelinated axons that connect different brain regions. Most axons are myelinated — and this is actually super important. The difference between a myelinated axon and an unmyelinated axon is the speed:
– Myelinated axons: 120 m/s
– Unmyelinated axons: 1 m/s
So yeah — the difference is huge! And here’s something really cool: myelin is created over time, depending on whether your brain recognizes certain information as important. If it does, it thickens the axons in those areas — leading to faster and more efficient information processing. - You can imagine the white matter as a system of roadways that connect the different brain regions — the axons. Meanwhile, the processing itself happens in the grey matter, where you’ll find the neurons, dendrites, and synapses. These words don’t play a super central role in this blog, but if you want to understand how information actually travels in the brain, I highly recommend this super clear two-minute video: 2-Minute Neuroscience: The Neuron
key regions of the brain
Parts of the Brain and Their Functions
Access the original on Science Notes
Now that we know the idea of grey matter, let’s look at the actual brain regions we use every single day. Here’s a quick walk-through of the ones that show up all the time — even if we don’t realize it:
- Prefrontal Cortex (PFC)
The prefrontal cortex is like the CEO of your brain. It’s mostly responsible for planning, decision-making, focus, and long-term thinking. Think of it as the supportive voice that tells you, “Go to the gym now — future you will be so proud.” - Hippocampus
This region is all about long-term memory and learning. That’s the part where your brain decides whether you’ll remember what you just studied — or not. - Amygdala
The emotional core. This part processes emotions like fear, stress, and threat. It’s like your brain’s internal alarm system. When it’s calm, you’re a queen of logic. But as soon as the alarm gets too loud — chaos. Good luck thinking clearly when that happens. - Basal Ganglia
This is your habit-making HQ. It’s the structure that forms and reinforces habits — both good and bad — based on repetition. So if you feel like your hand just magically scrolls Instagram without permission, that’s probably your basal ganglia doing its thing. - Cerebellum
Coordination and rhythm live here. But not just for movement — also for how smoothly you think and shift your attention. Lowkey underrated and very important. - Corpus Callosum
The bridge! This structure connects your left and right hemispheres. It lets your logical side and creative side actually talk to each other. So when you’re deep-thinking while also vibing with aesthetic vision? That’s thanks to this bridge. - Default Mode Network (DMN)
Okay, this one’s a little different. It’s more of a network than a single region. It activates when your brain is in idle mode — daydreaming, replaying memories, imagining stuff. When it’s used intentionally, it’s powerful for reflection and creativity. But when it’s constantly on without you realizing, it’s the reason you feel foggy or anxious. Think of it like background noise — helpful when low, overwhelming when too loud.
Using this knowledge to our advantage
Now that we know what’s going on inside, the question becomes: how do we actually use this?
I have mentioned that you could be implementing tons of healthy habits for your brain health, and here’s the truth: You can be doing all the healthy routines — studying for hours, sleeping 8 hours, reading 10 pages a day — and still feel like your brain isn’t firing right. So before we get into the usual advice, let’s talk about what blocks your brain from reaching its full potential.
First: This might sound controversial, but you might be too lazy to think actively. And that’s not shade — it’s just real. People who remember things, think fast, and stay sharp don’t just rely on habits. They train themselves to stay mentally switched on. They don’t float in and out of autopilot.
The Default Mode Network kicks in every time you drift off, fantasize, or zone out. It’s not bad — but when it’s on all the time, it creates fog. You read something, but you don’t remember it. You hear someone speak, but you don’t really process it.
So the first step is just awareness. Notice when you’re spacing out. Train yourself to come back. Real brain breaks don’t mean more scrolling or mind-wandering. It means breathing, noticing your surroundings, listening to a song on purpose. That’s presence. And presence strengthens attention.
When you’re not resting, you should be engaging — really engaging. Solve a math problem. Play chess. Write out your thoughts. Stretch your mind. This is how you activate your prefrontal cortex and increase your myelination. And when you learn with emotion — when you’re deeply curious, or visualizing what you’re studying, or under some pressure like an all-nighter — your brain flags that info as important. Emotional engagement helps build memory faster.
Now let’s talk about mindset. Because even if you’re doing everything else right, a negative belief about your own brain can quietly sabotage everything.
Here’s a wild fact: forgetting is active. Your brain chooses what to forget. If you keep telling yourself you’re bad at memorizing, your brain starts filtering those things out by default. You’re literally building connections that prove yourself right — even when you’re wrong.
So if you shift your mindset, you shift your wiring. And that shift alone — combined with active thinking — is what makes a massive difference.
Micro things that actually help (and why they work)
These are the small things I do daily that actually help — and maybe they will for you too:
Use 5 minutes better. You’d be surprised what you can get done. A reply, an email, a quick paragraph, one page of reading. It’s better than drifting. Way better than doom-scrolling.
Doom-scrolling kills your clarity. It feels like rest, but it’s not. It’s passive consumption. It breaks your attention and clutters your mind. If you want a break, try doodling, staring out the window, walking while noticing your surroundings. That’s a break. That’s how you clear your head.
Diet + hydration matter. We all know it, but it’s worth repeating. Sugar spikes your blood sugar and drops it — which messes with your focus. Hydration keeps your blood flowing and helps your brain actually do its job.
Be mindful of the loops you fall into. This isn’t about being perfect or guilt-tripping yourself. It’s about catching the little moments where your focus slips into autopilot — whether that’s a smoke, a thought spiral, or some mindless app. Every time you choose presence instead, your brain gets better at focus.
Move. Seriously. Moving your body gets your blood flowing, gets your oxygen levels up, and actually gives your brain a chance to rest while staying present. When you’re moving, you don’t get lost in thought so easily. You’re in the moment. That’s exactly what your brain needs — less overthinking, more now. But even when you move, stay aware. Don’t just walk around lost in your head again. Be in your body. Be in the street you’re walking on. That’s how you build a brain that’s fully alive.
Want to dive deeper?
Here are a few links I recommend for anyone who wants to nerd out like I did:
- Human Brain | GeeksforGeeks
- How to Rewire Your Brain: 6 Neuroplasticity Exercises
- The neuroscience of active forgetting
- How emotion helps memory
- Default Mode Network and clarity
You don’t need some 12-step morning routine to unlock your brain. You just need to start working with it instead of against it — understanding how it works, and showing up in those small but real ways.
Your mind is literally listening to the way you treat it. So speak to it like it’s powerful — because it is.
See my latest blog <3: Manifest More by Doing Less: Your Effortless Success Era – RomComToMe