Why we can't perform like a super computer?

Actually, we can perform like a super computer and do, on a constant basis. Just not like what you think.

A decent portion of the brain is devoted to keeping us alive. This requires constant attention and operation of the internal organs. If you thought balancing chemical equations was hard in school, they pale in comparison to what the brain does every second of every day of your life. Even when you take out conscious thought, the mere feat of keeping the body alive is remarkable.

What's more, when you start throwing in coordination and the ability to learn, you start to realize what kind of processing power it truly has.

Now, throw in conscious thought. As of yet, there are no sentient computers. Self awareness is an animal that we haven't quite tackled or even figured out HOW to tackle. And I'm saying that from the stance of biology, computer science, physics, and philosophy. Consciousness is a complicated thing, yet here we are, self aware.

Creating a single thought, regardless of how mundane it may be, obviously takes some serious computing power. Holding a piece of information is easy, however, for the thing that holds the information to KNOW it's holding information is on another level of complexity that we don't fully understand. Take memories for example, or even a simple piece of information, like the number 3. In its own right, it is small. However, when you think of the number, there are so many things happening in your brain to make you AWARE of that information. To us, it seems simple. But the reality is, an incredibly complex process short of a miracle is taking place that allows us to be aware. This, I think, is where a big chuck of the super computer of the brain lies. Not necessarily in the CONSCIOUS information it can process, but rather the processing that brings about consciousness itself, (and then the concept of 3 on top of that!).

If I had to break down the different things the brain processes, it'd go something like this (this is not exhaustive and off the top of my head):

1. (Learn... this happens at all levels)

2. Keep body and brain alive

3. Coordinate body based on sensory input (unconscious)

4. Self awareness

5. Consciously process sensory input

6. Whatever processing the conscious mind wants to do (such as add numbers)

When you think about what's involved at each of these levels, it becomes clearer how much processing is going on. Think about how long it took us to figure how to make robots walk upright. Now imagine coordinating all 600+ skeletal muscles at the same time... and that's just body movement!!!

You could probably cleverly teach a bundle of neurons to add 4+5 and they'd do it without problem, but would they be self aware? Doubtful. Awareness of that simple operation, obviously, takes something much more substantial.

These super computers are incredible because they can devote ALL of their resources to a single task. Our brains can not, otherwise we'd die (something's gotta run the body). I'd reckon that if you could truly devote all of the brain's resources into a single task (and remove self-awareness), it would probably trump any super computer of today.

The brain has too many parallel processes going on to be able to do that though, however, that does not diminish its truly remarkable processing ability.