Just say you are confronted with a serious danger, and your brain chooses “flight” over “fight.” Is your running speed the difference between safety and danger? According to scientific research, a fast brain is at least as important as a fast body. If you decide to escape, the speed with which your brain can direct your body is critical. You have to spot the danger quickly, make the decision to run, send instructions to your limbs to move, and tell your body where to go. It is a lot of brain work!

Read more here, on The Smithsonian Magazine