12 Myths About The Human Body Debunked
8. We Use Much More Than 10% Of Our Brains
This has admittedly become less of a misconception in recent years, due to shows like Mythbusters. But the fact remains that many people still think that we can only use 10% of our brains and that if we could use more we would unlock untold secrets and powers. This has been further perpetuated through pop culture, with films such as Lucy using it as the main plot point of the narrative, and even TV shows such as The Simpsons claiming it to be true.
The reality is that we use all of our brain’s capacity almost every day.
The brain is highly specialised. Different areas provide different functions, therefore not all of it is needed 100% of the time. However, even simple day to day tasks can use upwards of 90% of the brain’s capacity. The remaining 10% will be specialised for other tasks not currently needed at that particular moment.
In fact, the brain is responsible for 25% of our daily energy consumption. If you think about this from an evolutionary point of view, using only 10% of the brain would be a damning waste of energy for any species wishing to survive in the harsh climates and environments of nature. Evolution streamlines energy consumption to get the maximum benefit, consequently leaving no room for waste at this level.