Humans only use around 1/3 of the brain to do most things. Could humans have more brain power than we know? Could we become a much more intelligent and able species if we knew how to use it?
2006-07-07 18:14:14 · 18 answers · asked by Michael S 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
The brain is pretty much *the* most energy intensive organ in our body. In fact, it's so big a drain on our resources that some scientists have compared it to a peacock's tail - evidence to a mate that this is an individual that can survive despite having such a huge disadvantage. In addition, the size of a human head has increased to the point where any further increase would result in major problems with birth - it's already a bigger problem for us than almost any other mammal. Taking all this into account, it's likely that all that apparently unused brain does actually have *some* purpose, we just don't understand what it is. The cost of having a brain that size is too high for it to be wasted. Chances are it provides redundancy and flexibility for neural connections, even into old age, or something like that.
It may well be possible to find a way to use this 'spare' brain tissue to enhance thought, but I think you'd find there were some pretty significant penalties if you did.
2006-07-08 22:17:32 · answer #1 · answered by anoddlad 1 · 2⤊ 3⤋
Most Humans do in fact use only 10% of their brain, and some very intelligent people come up to about 15-20%.
The questions I ask myself are these:
1) Why would the body develop such a large (and in terms of energy use expensive) brain, if there was no need for it?
2) Did we use more of our brain in the past, but have lost the knowledge and capacity for that over the centuries?
3) Or are we still in a very early state of development, which will be completed when we use the full potential of our brain?
Personally, I tend to favour No. 3 as the most likely.
2006-07-07 22:59:52 · answer #2 · answered by Sean F 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think we are capable of much more than we can use our puny 1/3 to comprehend. Most of the ESP abilities I would outright deny but I do think that telepathy or some sort of mental communication may be possible. The reason why we haven't reached our full potential is because our lifespan is too short. If we could live a few hundred or a few thousand years I'm positive we could make leaps and bounds toward a higher potential. At any rate, we as a species have a long way to develop before we can say we have truly reached our limits.
2006-07-07 18:30:34 · answer #3 · answered by paw010 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There will never be a time when human brain will reach their full potential. If at all such a time comes, then electronic brain chips will take over and the same shall keep us occupied for the next 1000 years.
2006-07-07 18:53:01 · answer #4 · answered by Sree... 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. Human potential is limitless.
the 1/3 of the brain is thinking about what to type here. Remaining 2/3 are interpreting the signals from your eyes & other senses, operate your typing fingers, run the heart, and do other background tasks.
2006-07-07 18:21:21 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The best is not known as human is unique life is full of surprises for man to explore as pioneer a moon is just a gauge it is human who has potential Its life has not reach it fullest in innovation and invention creative human is always seeking for the benefit of mankind on earth
2016-03-26 21:12:38 · answer #6 · answered by Gail 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You know, I actually have this conversation with my bf frequently. I believe we have reached our potential, but I also believe that we will evolve to become more intelligent by mutations--just as we have become what we are today. Contradiction, perhaps.
I don't think we will get more brain power, but perhaps we will learn to better use what we have effectively through neuro-science and further studies in cognition.
2006-07-07 18:20:38 · answer #7 · answered by simple_gal 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe that we have yet to harness all of our brain cells but if we did what would we do with them. So far all we seem to do with the ones we've got is to use them to create bad reasons to kill each other so until the wars on earth end we will never evolve further and will probably wipe ourselves out before we get to use the 10% of the brain not yet harnessed.
2006-07-07 18:38:09 · answer #8 · answered by charlotte e 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
At any instant in time, you use a maximum 1/3rd of your brain, but instant to instant the bit you use changes, so from that point of view, your logic is flawed.
As to whether we could be smarter, then absolutely certainly, yes we could. But the way we are going; with the education systems in rapid decline and the populations being dumbed down, it isn't going to happen any time soon.
2006-07-07 18:20:04 · answer #9 · answered by The Lone Gunman 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We definetly have not reached our full potential. We don't even fully understand the brain yet much less what it is capable of.
2006-07-07 18:18:38 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋