• Question: Hello, why do humans only use a small percentage of their brain?.

    Asked by diggerlack to Rosie, Joe, Juan, Kate, Rory on 13 Mar 2014. This question was also asked by dan33.
    • Photo: Juan Carlos Lopez-Baez

      Juan Carlos Lopez-Baez answered on 13 Mar 2014:

      Hi @diggerlack and @dan33

      That is a great question and it is one of the biggest myths that has been spread around. In fact, we actually use most of our brains and that comes at a cost, as the brain requires 20% of our energy intake to function. Even when we are at rest, 45% of the brain is active maintain our body’s function. It is thought that the small percentage theory (normally between 4 and 10%) came about from misinterpretation of scientific studies back in the 19th and 20th century. After that, Hollywood and other popular media have tried to make us believe that it is like that and if we were to be able to use more of our brain we could speak to ghosts, connect with aliens and do a lot more non-sense.

      That doesn’t mean that we use the full potential of our brains and that is when good education and stimulus come into play. It doesn’t matter how intelligent you are that if you cannot be stimulated to use that intelligence, then you will not be using the absolute potential of your brain.

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