Is it true that we only use 2% of our brains? Doesn't that make all human beings mentally handicapped?

Question

If we use only 2 percent any of our body parts then it's called handicap so why not brain as well? So basically we are retarded! Is that why we have wars. We have no clue as to why we're here. We all end up dying and don't know why? Are we not completely clueless because we use only 2% of our brains?

Answer 1

You use 100% of your brain all the time. You may be consciously aware of only 10% of your brain activity, but the other 90% is always working. Think of all the activity your brain has to mediate....sensation, perception, thoughts, movement, your circulatory system, your circadian rhythm....and that's just the tip of the iceberg.
Almost every nerve cell in our brains is active most of the time. Scientists can detect this activity by measuring the electrical currents of nerve cells near the surface of the brain. More complex tests like PET (Positron Emission Tomography) can detect oxygen consumption, blood flow or glucose consumption (the sugar that is the brain fuel) by active neurons in all areas of the brain, not just the surface. Just about ALL of the human brain is busy all the time—even when we're sound asleep.

Answer 2

Whoa ! False premises based on phony factoids lead to crazy conclusions!
Many years ago, they tested brains by stimulating various spots with electrodes, and most of the stimulated areas produced no movement or verbalized behavior or memory, etc., so someone jumped to the wrong idea that most of our brains are not used.
Nowdays, they scan the brain with MRI-type devices, so they can observe entire areas light up, just from showing a test subject a picture, or asking him to think of something, etc. There turn out to be NO inactive, dormant, idle or wasted areas in the brain. Mother Nature doesn't work that way. There'd be NO reason for us to have craniums so big that they can hardly fit through a mother's pelvis during childbirth, if you only used 2% of the brain.
Three are many psuedo-science factoids floating around. Get your science knowledge from better sources, like Tuesday's New York Times.

Answer 3

There is no scientific evidence to support this theory.

The brain is described as being like a soft ball of clay. With every thought and experience, it molds the clay.

Thus, as all Individuals have different interests and learn more about those interests then every individuals brain develops differently (i.e. skills you've learned opposed to skills i've learned)

Therefore people would not be mentally handicapped but rather we have underdeveloped brains which have not been used to its fullest potential.

Answer 4

I think you're referring to the urban myth of only using 10% of our brains.

We use all of our brains, just not all functions simultaneously.

A comedian friend of mine used this as a joke: Since we're only using 10% of our brains, what is the other 90% for? To party with!

Answer 5

LOL good point! If I could figure out a way to use more of my brain I would. I think that if a person suffers some type of brain damage they can learn to use parts of their brain that they never used before.But I think we use far more than only 2% of our brains.

Answer 6

No, I'm pretty sure we use all of our brains.

You have a point there, though. Hmm... I guess we would be considered handicapped, if we did only use 2%. Interesting concept... haha :P

Answer 7

This is just a myth, and it is not yet proven. I think this means that we only use 10% of our brains for thinking, and the other parts are for other functions (ex. memory, motor activities). And it's 10%, not 2%.

Answer 8

No, that is a myth. All parts of the brain are used.

Answer 9

Actually, the myth is that we use 10% of our brains. This article talks about the myth and why it's not exactly true:

http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_028.html

Answer 10

I think it says that we are just lazy.