How can the belief that we only use x% of our brain be true?

Question

It's often said (particularly by those peddling mind excercises etc.) that we only use 50% or 60% (or x %) of our brain capacity - but how can this be true? Evolution would not have given us excess capacity - particularly of an organ that is so expensive in terms of energy. I can understand a little bit of redundancy, but not that much unused capacity.

Answer 1

We use 100% of our brain.

The idea that we only use a small percentage of our brain is a myth.

The popular media and some very influential thinkers have contributed to this misconception. Statements that humans only use a small portion of their brains have been attributed to physicist Albert Einstein and anthropologist Margaret Mead. And the advertising industry is guilty of using the idea to sell their products.

Regardless of its origin, experts in the field of neurology seem quite certain that although certain pathways in the brain may be working at different activity levels, all parts of the brain are always being used—even during sleep.

Here is a link to a page called Do We Only Use 10% of our Brain? which has more information about the topic and additional links to further research.

Answer 2

I think it would make sense if it's what's used at once or what is used for conscious cognitive processing. There are areas of the brain for motor function, language, speech movement and regulating your body functions. There's also those for memory and the subconscious. But those may not be considered to be "active" in the way our cognitive thoughts are, the strain of thought you keep the math you do or choose what to say, your personality as it were, that may be comparitively little. Other than I must be in some sort of agreement, that evolution can create a large brain with so much unused is terribly inefficient.

Answer 3

How much of your computers true capacity do you fully exploit? We have got seriously lazy. If you do any mind exercises you will see the difference. Even doing an educational course for a year will prove the point.Try it. I know I am right. I've done it and the difference is amazing. Here's another one for you. Try giving up alcohol for 3 months. You don't appreciate the amount of energy and vitality that you lose through drinking. May sound like rubbish, however it is true.

Answer 4

You are exactly right, its bollocks. Brain matter is too evolutionarily expensive to keep around if we are not using it.

Just because the scientists and doctors don't know what it is used for yet, doesn't mean it isn't used.

That particular quote came out of a single scientific paper from maybe 30 years ago now. It is based on an old model of how the brain works and is very out of date. It is still widely quoted though.

Its like the 'humans have 5 senses' thing, just popular mythology now.

Answer 5

There are many reasons for this belief. One is that we rarely meet(many people never met it in their life) with situations where we can make use of the maximum capacity of brain. Suppose If we met then our laziness or lack of confidence may stop us. if there is lot of people to think of the same thing we only need to contribute a small percentage of brain.
We can't say about the usage of brain because there is no instrument or algoritham available to measure it. But we can assess it but remember it's purely depends on the person who assess it.

Answer 6

ok, this may sound weird, but persevere...

we have no redundant systems on our bodies. (appendix maybe) we dont have spare capacity in our brains, wher do you think all the memories are stored. we remember everything from the first breath...until our last. for most folks, our earliest memories are from about aged 4 or 5, and its very selective, birthday, christmas etc.

but, under hypnosis it can be recalled.. and dont forget, our humble grey matter can do things gates and windows can only dream of... like throwing and catching a ball... have you any idea how many calculations that requires? and what do we do, we throw the ball, and we catch it, without apparently thinking about it... velocity, trajectory, adjustments for mass or wind... distance...blah blah blah, and we do it in less than a millisecond... and even now, with 30 years of PC development, one unconnected computer cannot throw a ball to another unconnected computer... we take for granted what we can do naturally.. we learn intuitively. and we can deduce solutions based on empirical data... gleaned from similar applicational requirements. all that raw data has to be stored somewhere.. doesnt it..

Answer 7

Look at a series of MRI scans of a brain and you tell by the sheer number of highlighted areas that nearly a 100% of brain is being used at any one moment. This idea that we haven't reached our full capacity yet is mostly perpuated by millionaire authors of self help books and, of course, by logically-challenged believers in the supernatural who are trying to find a scientific basis in this ever increasing sceptical world to explain where their "psychic powers" comes from.

Your reasoning about redundancy is perfectly sound.

Answer 8

Actually its 10%

It has been proved using scans that show electrical activity in the brain. The electrical activity is an indication of nerual activity (ie shows parts of your brain 'working')

By the way an MRI (Magnetic Resonant Imaging CANNOT show ACTIVITY in the brain). It is used to find masses, and is particularly good for brain haemorrhages.

In these tests people are asked to perform different tasks, are shown images, given scents to sniff...etc etc.

The scans are done at the same time, showing the corresponding area of the brain working (how do u think we mapped these areas in the first place..?).

Doctors have CALCULATED that the percentage of our brain that shows electrical activity compared to the ACTUAL amount of matter in our brain = 10%.

There are areas of our brain (ie. THOUSANDS of neurons)that we dont use at all!

So you are COMPLETELY wrong. People who have psychic abilities, ESP etc. actually use MORE of their brain than people who dont have those abilities.

Read the scientific studies ( if you have the mental capacity to do so)

Answer 9

All of the answers that imply that 100% of the brain is used are obviously wrong. If we did use 100% of our brain then any slight damage (for example from banging our heads or getting too drunk!) would result in some loss of memory, motor function etc.
Clearly the evolutionary advantage is that excess brain matter acts as a buffer from any damage.
You wouldn't have a computer that uses 100% of the hard disc would you?!

Answer 10

Agree with you about how one can say %s.Capacity is infinite,if you want to look at it like that,and hence one cannot put in a definitive figure.
Perhaps it is a motivating factor to bring out more in people.
Biologically,one has to differentiate between brain and mind.when people talk about capacity usually it is the latter they will be referring to(and my inference of infinity).Even a demented brain,whose layers involved with aspect of cognition,has thinnned down,has capacity to generate thoughts and ideas,or drivel for that matter.