The myth that we only use 10% of our brain is a myth. Research shows that we actually use all parts of our brain, and only the areas that are needed for a particular situation are activated. The brain’s potential is still expandable, and this myth was created by the spread of misinformation in the past.
“Most humans only use five to six percent of their brain. But I’m using 7 percent.” This is said to have been said by the famous scientist Albert Einstein, but he never actually said it during his lifetime. Nevertheless, it has become a favorite quote of many people and has influenced as many people as Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity. The idea that we only use 10% of our brain in our lifetime has become almost like an orthodoxy. But do we really only use 10% of our brains in our lifetime?
The bottom line is that this myth is unfounded. Even scientists who have studied the metabolic activity of brain cells agree that there are no non-functional areas of the brain. Basically, almost all of the brain’s neurons are used. Each of our 100 billion brain cells is connected to at least 10,000 other cells, and they’re all busy doing their jobs. It’s just that not all areas of the brain are active at the same time. As Barry Gordon, a neurologist at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, explains, “We use virtually every part of our brain, and most areas of the brain are active almost all the time. But at certain moments in our lives, for example, when we are simply resting, we may be using as little as 10 percent of our brain,” he said. In other words, we use our entire brain throughout our lives, but not all of it at every moment, and certain areas of the brain are activated based on the needs of the moment.
Imaging studies of the brain also provide solid evidence that humans use the entire brain. Studies using PET (positron emission tomography), CAT, fMRI, and other imaging modalities have shown that there are no dormant areas of the brain. There are no individual neurons or cells in the brain that are inactive. “These imaging data show that humans use 100 percent of their brain, even in a single day,” says John Henry, a neurologist at the Mayo Clinic (Rochester, Minn.), who has published research using imaging modalities. Even while we sleep, the frontal lobe, which is responsible for higher-order thinking and self-awareness, and the somatosensory system, which allows us to perceive our surroundings, are active.
In fact, the brain’s activity doesn’t decrease much during sleep. During dreaming, the brain plays an important role in processing sensory information and organizing memories. During this process, different parts of the brain are activated, especially the areas that process visual experiences and emotions. Therefore, the fact that we use a large part of our brain even when we sleep is evidence that once again debunks the myth that we only use 10% of our brain.
The myth that we only use 10% of our brain can also be debunked from a developmental perspective. When the nervous system is first formed, the brain contains a large number of synapses, the junctions that connect nerve cells to each other. However, after a baby is born, many of these synapses are removed. These are the ones that are not being used because they don’t receive constant stimulation. In fact, the human brain is designed to eliminate certain synapses if they don’t receive adequate stimulation. The developmental principle that unused organs die and are lost applies equally to the nervous system. This was demonstrated by Nobel Prize winners David H. Hubel and Torsten N. Wiesel through experiments. They showed that if visual information (appropriate stimuli) is blocked during the early development of the nervous system, the ability to see is eventually lost forever. So, from a developmental perspective, if 90% of the brain is not being used, the neural synapses in that part of the brain should have disappeared. In reality, however, we know that synapses are distributed throughout the brain, so the myth that humans only use 10% of their brain is not true.
However, it is true that the brain is not yet working at 100% of its capacity. According to theoretical neurologist Dr. Dmitri Chklovskii, the number of synapses in the brain is less than 30% of its maximum capacity. In theory, the brain still has about 70% of its available synapses to spare. In other words, almost all brain cells are active, but the connections between them are not yet saturated. This leaves room for human learning and adaptability, meaning that we can still expand our brain’s capabilities through new experiences and learning. As such, the brain has the potential to constantly evolve through experience and learning.
The myth that humans only use 10% of their brains comes from 19th century psychologist William James, who claimed that “the average person uses 10% of their brain, but geniuses use 15-20%.” This is a misleading way to describe the brain. This was a misleading statement. Later, in the early 20th century, self-improvement lecturers often cited this theory to convince their audiences that human potential is limitless. This led to the widespread acceptance of the claim as truth by the general public. However, we use our entire brain, and more importantly, we have the ability to use different parts of our brain at different times.
In fact, when discussing brain usage and potential, it’s not just the quantity that matters, but the quality. In other words, it’s more a matter of which parts of the brain are activated and how efficiently. For example, when performing complex mathematical calculations or learning a new language, certain brain regions are particularly active. Certain circuits in the brain are used very intensively, while other parts of the brain may be less active. This differential activation of brain regions in different situations is what makes us more focused and creative in certain activities.
In the end, the fact that we use our entire brain is not a limiting factor to our potential, but rather a stepping stone that has enabled human progress to date and will play a pivotal role in our future endeavors. Furthermore, the human brain has the ability to continue to change and grow, which suggests endless possibilities for how much more potential we can unlock in the future. Scientists are still in the process of unraveling the mysteries of the brain, and as we learn more about it, the possibilities for its use will only expand.
