why do we only use 10% of our brain???
463192
We use 100% of our brain-or at least 100% of our brain sense signals and uses oxygen and glucose.  Any neuron which does not connect with another and depolarize occasionally will probably die.  I have no idea where this myth came from, unless it was from studies of learning and memory.  We can learn a great deal more than most of us do-any average person could learn multiple languages, become expert in a number of fields, etc, but we don't.  This doesnt mean we dont use our brains-learning is more likely the generation of new pathways, connections, etc.  So it may be that we only learn 10% of what we could (put this way, it would be closer to 1%).  The majority of the brain is set aside for motor and sensory system integration- It takes an enormous amount of brain power to just perform our normal movements and to interpret and filter all the huge amount of sensory information we get every second-*That* is the primary action of the cortex.
219847
You are entirely correct! The power of the mind is limitless. The reason we humans have such low expectations is because we are weak at mind and conscious. We constantly underestimate ourselves, we humans are by far the most intelligent things to have ever existed on earth, we simply lack the drive and fear too many things.
292711
No I don't think so. Our brains work by electro-chemical interactions.\n\nWe'd be much smarter I think if our brains worked like a quantum computer. Or, we could not make any decisions at all as all of our decisions will be in a quantum flux, and dictated only by the laws of probability. So we'd be making random decisions!!
325550
Great question that has been raised in many a bio-psych class.  Our brain is much more adaptable and maleable than a computer. I would love to be able to "delete" some of my memories and would definately love to organize my thoughts into "file folders" but our brain does not do that.  We are unable to control/alt/delete either.  \n\nThe human brain is amazing and I don't believe we know everything that it is capable of.  \n\nGood luck on this fun question and discussion!
732509
That's not true.  That's actually a big misconception.  Humans use 100% of their brain.  Even something as simple as scratching your head uses a large percentage of your brain. "When you make a movement, say with your left arm, you unconsciously plan that movement and you are unaware of this planning stage. To make a single voluntary movement, the frontal cortex, basal ganglia, thalamus, and premotor cortex are involved. And this is just for one movement. If you factor in everything else that we do at one time, like searching for certain items, listening to and comprehending speech, thinking and planning, memory consolidation, etc., then really, we are doing quite a lot with our brains."\n\nhttp://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/tenper.html\nhttp://www.snopes.com/science/stats/10percnt.htm\nhttp://skeptico.blogs.com/skeptico/2006/03/only_have_10_of.html\nhttp://www.mercola.com/2004/oct/30/brain_use.htm\nhttp://www.brain-fx.com/2005/11/do_we_really_on.html\nhttp://www.alternativescience.com/no_brainer.htm\nhttp://www.abc.net.au/science/k2/moments/s1090374.htm
124136
Everyone has a brain, just some people use theirs more than others.
47866
Because we're way smarter than yanks lol! only joking. The following is just my theory - As a Briton I believe our basic education system falls short in many areas. For the majority this is not good, however, those with a strong desire to learn have an advantage. Because of substandard basic education, there is less purely acedemic BS clogging up the brain leaving more space for ground breaking new ideas. Put simply, liken the human brain to a computer - take away MS Windows (the acedemic BS that makes the computer 'average'), and you have a machine that is open to new ideas (OS's), ie, it can think 'outside the box', which is a vital key in inventive thinking.\n\nNow if only british government & industry would start backing our young inventors instead of forcing them to sell their ideas to the far east...
532132
Our cells do not sleep.  The function of cognizance shifts from the real world to the dream world.  Yes, as we expand our knowledge our capacity to learn increases.  It is a false notion that there is only so much "space" in the brain\nWe all function far below or mental capacities.
376079
We *can* use 100% of our brain. This is a very strange, but common misconception. All parts of our brain have various functions and all are used. \n\nThe likely source of this myth is the discovery long ago that only about 10% of our neurons are firing at a time. That does not mean only ten percent fire ever, but on average, that is how many fire at any given time.   On that line of thinking, if 100% of our neurons were to fire at once, we would be having a severe seizure.
469364
We use all of our brains.  It is a myth that we do not.
276541
It's a huge misconception that people only use 8% of their brains.  I'm a neuroscientist and have yet to find someone who will volunteer to let me take out 92% of their brain.  If you take out 92% of a brain, that person would be lucky to be alive in a persistent vegitative state.  \n\nTo answer the question, why people loose their memory ...\nPeople loose anything they don't use on a regular basis, including performing tasks or remembering information.  If you don't 'excite' a conection in the brain regularly, that conection degrades, as it is an inefficient use of brain energy to keep a conection alive when it isn't needed.  It's just a part of life.
568122
Okay.  This is a common misconception perpetrated by those wonderful PSAs with David Schwimmer and the likes.\n\nWhen scientists came out with research saying that you only use 20% of their brain, they meant that you only use 10-20% of your brain at any given time.\n\nSomehow, the media grabbed ahold of this and misinterpreted it to mean that you only use 20% of your brain in your lifetime.\n\nHere's how it actually works.  Throughout the course of a given day, you will use 100% of your brain.  Only about 15% or so is electrically active at any given point in time (for the average person).  Certain portions of your brain are active during certain activities, whether it be reading or riding a bike or anything else.\n\nThe magnificent thing about the brain is its efficiency.  If you do not use a set of neurons in the brain, they will disconnect from their neighboring neurons and sometimes die by apoptosis (mostly in development, but this occurs throughout life).  When a neuron pulls away from other neurons, more will extend to make new connections.  This way, the brain is constantly keeping otherwise unused portions used.\n\nSo to answer your question, you are already using 100% of your brain!  The real question here is: how do I use my brain's potential more effectively?\n\nWell, keep healthy, physically and mentally.  Exercise to keep your blood flowing to your brain, feeding it.  Drink water to help this process.  Do mentally stimulating activities: read books, write, paint, think of things!  Meditate!  Train your ability to focus on one thing at a time.  Train your ability to multitask.  Turn off the TV.  Go outside and enjoy nature.  Relax.  Help kids with their homework.  Study something.\n\n~The more you know\n\nlol
1083667
using 10% seems to be on everyone tongue at the moment.\nactually our brain activity is around the 20% mark which may rise during periods of REM sleep or stress.\nWe use all parts of our brain but not all at the same time.\nThink of it in terms of a computer processor.\nHit Ctrl+Alt+Delete and click the performance tab of your task manager.\nDosent seem to be doing very much, but infact it is performing mind numbing calculations every second.\nSee the idea!
356422
only 0.005%.\nthe reason is that most of human beings use only 0.005% on their mind, and all robots are man made.
317396
Your brain is the most important organ in your body, and also it's particularly helpful for school. When you concentrate your brain will use 20% of the glucose in your body. You therefore need to get out of bed early so that you can A) wake up your brain, and B) feed your body which will allow for the intake of glucose to your brain when you need it.....
388686
What is the use of having a brain without avenues to use it?Now that our people can move out and use it it is good for them and for others.\nFrom economic point of view it restricts employment of overqualified people in domestic industries,for lesser pay.(Underemployment) When qualified persons find good jobs abroad, the lesser privileged accommodate themselves inside our country. It reduces the imbalance between the brain and money. They need the brain and we need their money.\nIn some sense it is boon.
1066739
Even Albert Einstien could not use 100% of his brain. According to a research , humans use only 10% of their brain and Einstien used 90% of his intellect. So you can realise what the potential of human brain is. If at all you come to know how one can use 100 % of his brain , let me know too.And if you are able to do so, I hail to you as a true genius(no kidding).All the best , may god bless you!\nYours sincerely,\nVanchit