How Big Is Our Brain?

Caught this China reality show on TV over the weekend. The show invites participants from all over China to show their might with their brain. Participants could have the best memory, be the most observant, quick at complex calculations etc. In this episode that I watched, I was most impressed by this guy who flew in a helicopter and committed the entire landscape of Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour to memory. Later on, he reproduced the entire landscape on a wide sheet of paper using nothing but a pencil. He managed to reproduce incredible details like building design and signboards on buildings. The massive drawing in itself is already an incredible piece of art, let alone the fact that it is reproduced from memory. Traditionally, Chinese look down on drawing as a profession. He wanted to prove to his parents that he could make waves with drawing. He was inspired by Stephen Wiltshire to perform this feat on national TV.

Our brain really has unlimited potential and a large part of it is untapped. Are we our own stumbling blocks? Are we imposing too many unspoken rules and beliefs to ourselves and inhibiting our brain from showing the true prowess?