Page 148 - The Cell in 40 Topics

The Cell in 40 Topics

travels rapidly towards the brain along the auditory nerves. At the end of
this journey, a large portion of the millions of neurons in the brain are occu-
pied with analyzing the hearing data thus obtained. Thus, finally, you actu-
ally hear your friends say “Hello” (Figure 114).
These processes, here described in greatly simplified terms, are in fact
exceedingly complex and take place in less than a second. We see and hear
hundreds of thousands of times every day, yet we generally never think
how we do this. Everything we see and hear, we see and hear through the
mercy of God, the Compassionate and Merciful. This should be a means
whereby all believers give thanks.
In fact, God reveals in the Qur’an that human beings should reflect on
this and be duly grateful:
God brought you out of your mothers’ wombs knowing nothing at all,
and gave you hearing, sight and hearts so that perhaps you would show
thanks. (Surat an-Nahl, 78)

Figure 114.
The electrical signals reaching
the brain are analyzed by neu-
rons and perceived as sounds,
thanks to which you are able to
hear your friends greeting.

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