Humans only use 20-30% of their brain

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The claim that humans only use 20-30% or even 10% of their brains is widely regarded as a myth, lacking scientific support. Discussions reveal that this misconception may stem from misinterpretations of early neuroscience studies and quotes from historical figures like Albert Einstein and William James. The brain is an expensive organ that would not have evolved to its current size if large portions were unused; its development suggests that all areas serve essential functions. Neuroscientific evidence shows that various brain regions are active depending on tasks, and even when not consciously engaged, the entire brain is metabolically active. The myth persists partly due to popular media portrayals, such as the film "Limitless," which perpetuate the idea that untapped potential exists within the brain. Overall, the consensus is that while not all neurons fire simultaneously, the entire brain is utilized in different capacities, making the notion of "unused" brain areas misleading.
  • #51


DaleSpam said:
I always assumed that in this context "used" means "neurons firing", so the claim is that only 10% of your neurons are firing at a given time. That sounds reasonable since not firing is very important too. A seizure is what happens when your neurons fire too much.

That's the best interpretation I've heard so far.

It's one of those one always hears, and can't even make sense of since it's not even clear what the thing means! Now, I would like to know, what is "water on the brain"?
 
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  • #52


JaredJames said:
Like I said, what does bipedalism have to do with collision avoidance?
Why so serious about a silly statement followed by a winky?
 
  • #53
  • #54


Jim1138 said:
Why so serious about a silly statement followed by a winky?

On the one hand I was curious if there was any truth to it and on the other it was a silly statement which someone reading through might believe (how things like the '10% of brain' get started).

That aside, you also tried to provide an explanation for it.
 
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