The mind is generally associated with feelings, sentience, and consciousness of self, while the brain is a dissectible biological tissue. But learning about the brain, which is part of a larger system called the nervous system, can teach us about the mind and thus about our nature.

The brain is a material network of neurons, synapses and biochemicals. The mind is a flow of subjective experiences, such as pain, pleasure, anger and love.

The brain and mind are like hardware and software in a computer — the brain forms the physical structure, while the mind acts as the instructions that shape how that structure functions. Just as software can change how hardware operates, our thoughts, beliefs, and perceptions can influence brain activity.