Since grade school, I have always been told that a human being uses only 10% of his or her brain. My question is this - what is the science behind this theory, or is it just an urban legend -type fact that has no basis in peer-reviewed science? Or am I the only one who has been told this?
2007-12-18 15:02:28 · 3 answers · asked by bribrila 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
It's one of those things that 'everybody knows' which is not accurate. We use most of our brains; we may not know for exactly what yet, but it does get used. Every month or so, a new paper comes out showing how different areas of the brain 'light up' under scanning when certain stimuli are presented to the person who happens to host that brain. We're still learning what areas of the brain are involved in even basic mental activities, even though we've been working on this with various levels of crudeness for hundreds of years.
2007-12-18 15:19:37 · answer #1 · answered by John R 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
No, you're not the only one that's been told that, but you're right to question it. As the previous person correctly explained, it's a myth. Our brains are used almost in their entirety in order to carry out the gajillions of calculations needed just to allow you to see, hear, taste, smell, and feel, let alone stand up without falling over. And conscious thought? Fuhgeddaboutit! Our brains are incredibly active.
2007-12-18 16:30:33 · answer #2 · answered by Lucas C 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a myth.
2007-12-19 04:37:31 · answer #3 · answered by lilagrubb 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋