Do we use 10 of our brain?

Ultimately, it's not that we use 10 percent of our brains, merely that we only understand about 10 percent of how it functions. read more

Studies of brain damage: If 10 percent of the brain is normally used, then damage to other areas should not impair performance. Instead, there is almost no area of the brain that can be damaged without loss of abilities. Even slight damage to small areas of the brain can have profound effects. read more

The idea that we only use 10 percent of our brain is deeply entrenched in popular culture and often stated as fact in books and movies. A 2013 study found that 65 percent of Americans believe this to be true. It’s not entirely clear how it all started, but it’s more science fiction that fact. read more

Yet many people do cling on to the idea that we only use 10% of our brains. The idea is so prevalent that when the University College London neuroscientist Sophie Scott was on a first aid course the tutor assured the class that head injuries are not very serious because of the 10% “fact”. read more