Mythbust Monday - You Use Only 10% of Your Brain
You’ve probably heard it before, the old saying that you only use 10% of your brain. It makes for good science fiction material surely. Imagine all the possibilities if we could harness the other 90% of our brain power. Why, we could have the powers of telepathy, telekinesis and maybe even successful telemarketing. Right?
No, not really.
Where did the myth begin?
Some say this myth began as a misquoted bit of insight from Albert Einstein or Dale Carnegie. It may have come from William James, an American psychologist who said we only make use of a small portion of our possible mental and physical resources. Or maybe it further stemmed from overzealous wannabe psychics, hopeful for the chance to develop extraordinary powers.
The list goes on and on and the myth of using only 10% of the human brain is further perpetuated… even by the modern media!
We use 100% of our brain
People have tried to justify the seemingly overwhelming lack of tapped brain power within the human brain, but when looked at closely, it’s really hard to justify.
What does it mean to “use only 10% of your brain?” Does this statement imply that only 10% of the brain’s neurons is active at any one time? If so, how could this be measured? Does the statement assume that only 10% of the brain is firing action potentials at one time?
–The Brain Connection
If we use only 10% of our brain, does this mean we can remove the other 90% without consequence? I don’t think so. Even if you mess up a tiny piece and most people are screwed.
I’m sorry(?) to say, but we use all of our brain and not just the 10% we were forced to believe.
When imaging the brain with, let’s say a PET scan or fMRI, you can see activity all over the brain. From an evolutionary standpoint (if you jive with evolution that is) it is doubtful that a brain which was 90% useless would further develop over millennia. Even from a developmental standpoint the 10% myth of brain functioning also fails. Check out Hubel and Wiesel’s case with the body’s visual system.
But why does the media still believe it?
Learn quicker. Read faster. Develop paranormal powers. If they can hook you and spin it with science, they have also bought you. Or rather, you have bought their product. Think twice before grabbing your phone and ordering that brain-enhancing pill you saw on TV. You know, the one that promises to unlock the hidden potential of your brain… the parts you’ve never used before.
The only thing you’ll unlock successfully will be your wallet.
–Magdalena
Do you have anything to add to this mythbust? If so, leave us a comment!
