"It is a myth that we only use 10% of
our human brain."
It is common to hear this
statement, alarmingly even from a few people who label themselves as
"scientific" or as researchers.
In actuality, such a comment as above, is
more misleading itself than the so-called myth of unused brain potential.
Think.
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You no more use 90% of your brain potential than you use 90% of your muscle
potential all of the time.
To
say that we use all of our brain, would be like saying Arnold
Schwarzenegger or Lou Firigno had as 90 pound teenagers reached the pinnacle
of their muscular development.
You no more use all of your brain all of the
time than you use 100% of your lung capacity sitting at your computer keyboard.
You no more use all of your brain all of
the time than you use all of your car all of the time; that you always drive at
the full potential of your Honda; that you always drive at the top speed of your
car; that your trunk and seats are always filled to capacity; that you have even
figured out and daily employ every single way in which you could use your car.
To
say that we use all of our brain ignores the fact that you keep losing
your car keys all the time. To
say that we use all of our brain ignores the fact that you
couldn't remember where you left your car in the parking garage-
even though this is well within your brain potential. |
Sir John Eccles has stated his feelings on the infinite potential of the human
brain, and he won the Noble prize. Such
a statement that "We use all of our brain all of the time" or
"It is a myth that we only use 10% of our brain" are both
misleading and unhelpful uninspiring skeptical crumbs with barely a grain
of truth- As well as not even being accurate statements regarding usage of
the human brain.
Humans have an
unlimited capacity to learn. Unlike computers, no human brain has ever
said: "Hard drive full."
A simple look at brain scans will show us that the brain modulates
dramatically from one moment to the next in regards to its activity and
usage. Here it is then, on the screen of Functional MRI machines and Pet
scans, incontrovertible evidence that we do not use all of our brain all
of the time.
To say "We use all of our brain all of the time" says nothing
about the potential of human intelligence, creativity, and problem
solving. Such a skeptical rebuttal of the vast potential of the human
think machine implies that we have reached our limits of brain potential-
probably the most harmful dead end notion of all. We haven't even gotten
close.
Our frontal lobes have
been culturally and socially lobotomized. At
this stage of evolution, we are simply still Apes With Pencils. That's
actually very good news.
Why do some such "experts" delight it saying
"It is a MYTH that we only use 10% of our brain." ?
It's the old, "I know more than YOU Game. It's an ego
thing. It's a reptile brain on-upmanship thing. It's the old "You are
stupid and I am smart by comparison thing." Skeptics LOVE telling people
they are wrong. It makes them feel superior. It is a sin of omission, as
as often as not, such people making this contrary statement do not
really let us know the whole story.
"It is a myth that you only use 10% of your brain" is
no more helpful and informative than saying, "The moon is not made of
green cheese". It tells us very little, indeed.
So, as it turns out, to say that "We
only use 10% of our brain, only 10% of our brain potential"-
this is actually an infinitely optimistic, as well as a considerably
reasonable and thoughtful perspective of the possibilities that reside
inside our craniums.
It is a helpful
generalization and observation by and for the lay person, and although
not literally precise, it reflects upon the reality that owners of a
human think box have an enormous mental potential from which to draw,
from which we as individuals and as a human culture, often as not,
ignore.
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Research Report
Dormancy of the Human Brain
Dormant Brain Research and Development Laboratory
T.D.A. Lingo,
Director
The human brain is only 10% functional, at best.
The first to outline this theory, later proved a fact by others,
was Australian Neurology Nobel Laureate Sir John Eccles.
(Lecture: University of Colorado, University Memorial Center
Boulder, July 31, 1974.) "The brain indicates its powers are
endless."
In England, John Lorber did autopsies on hydrocephalics. This
illness causes all but
the 1/6th inch layer of brain tissue to be dissolved by acidic
spinal fluid.
He tested the IQ's of patients before and during the disease. His
findings showed that IQ remained constant up to death. Although over
90% of brain
tissue was destroyed by the disease, it had no impact on what we
consider to be normal
intelligence.
Russian neurosurgeon Alexandre Luria proved that the 1/3 bulk of
frontal lobes are mostly dormant. He did this by performing ablation
experiments
on persons. He gave physiological and psychological tests before,
cut out parts and whole
frontal lobes, the re-tested after. His conclusion: removal of part
or all of
frontal lobes causes no major change in brain function, (some change
in mood alteration).
The frontal lobes are mostly dormant, asleep. (Luria, A.R.
"Frontal Lobes and the Regulation of Behavior." In: K.H.
Pribram
and A.R. Luria, Editors, Psychophysiology of the Frontal Lobes.
New York, and London, Academic Press, 1973)
Finally, the human brain contains 10 billion neurons, mostly in the
outer layer of brain cortex.
the function of these currently dominant cells is fairly clear. but
the brain also contains 120 billion glial
cells. Aside from some secondary nurturing of neurons,
the primary
function of the glia is not clear.
What big bang mirical awaits mankind within these mysteries?
Today, most would agree without argument that the potential of the
human brain is infinite. Thus, to
state that a person uses 10%, 5%, or even 1% of their potential
brain capacity (infinity)
is overly generous.
The point is this: There is no dispute among honestly rational
experts about the latent potential
of the human think box. There is only friendly dispute about how
much and what still awaits
us, patiently to be
self-discovered between each set of ears. Hence, the wisdom of
intuitive folksay
was correct:
"The human brain is only 10% functional." John Eccles thinks that
number is too high. "How can
you calculate a percentage of infinity?"
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