What is the purpose of the unused parts of our brain?

Question

We only use about 12% of our brain. What's the rest of it for?

I'd be interested to hear both the religous and the evolutionist answer to this question....

Chibimoonsong - If you're tired of this question, move on. Don't hold me accountable for your stupidity in continuing to comment on it...

Thank you drive through....

Answer 1

This is actually a myth. You use 100% of your brain all the time. You may be consciously aware of only 12% of your brain activity, but the other 88% 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

I agree with the person above. Large parts of the brain may appear active for very small tasks. So firstly, it is difficult to conclude that we only use 12% of our brains. It would require every single neuron to be recorded individually for every imaginable tasks (which has never been done) to conclude this. Secondly, even if every neuron could be recorded, to say if it is or is not active is a matter of where you set your threshold. So the question isn't really 'why do we only use 12% of our brain', its 'how much of our brain do we use'? And the answer to this, nobody knows.

Answer 3

Hi. One theory that sounds good as has some research backing it up is that memory is stored as a chemical hologram. In other words, like a conventional hologram, information is stored not as an image but as a pattern of interactions. If true then a lot of the brain that we don't seem to have an understanding of is actually storing part of the pattern. This could be why removing a small amount does not (usually) change your personality of memories very much.

Answer 4

this is neither a religous or evolution answer
but
it is my understanding that the more you learn, the more you read and the more you do the less likely you will be a vegetable when you get old
Your brain is a muscle so you have to use it in order to keep it healthy.
The healthier it is the longer is will take care of you instead of someone else having to do it for you...

Make sense?

Thought so......

Answer 5

Evolutionists: "We we evolve into something capable of using the entire brain. And, after that, we'll grow two brains. It's a process."
Believers of all kinds: "GOD (the generic name for whomever people pray to) divided our brain into 8 parts as a sign that we'll have to go through eight different lives until we become angels with blond hair. After we become blond, we still have 4 % of the brain to use...

Answer 6

Ask a stroke victim if they didn't need that part of their brain. We use 100% of our brains, most of it for tasks below the level of consciousness.

Answer 7

For you? Trying to remember how to place your socks on. For the rest of us... we use the entire thing. Please look up to see if your question has been answered previously. Because I'm kinda tired of this one.