Why You May Have Heard Humans Only Use 10% of the Brain and Why That's Wrong - Deepstash
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The 10 percent myth

The 10 percent myth

A common myth is that humans only use 10 percent of their brainpower. About 65 percent of Americans believe this, according to a 2013 study. A 1998 study showed that a third of psychology majors, who focus on the brain, also believe this.

However, scientists have consistently shown that humans use their entire brain throughout the day.

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Neuropsychology

Neuropsychology is concerned with how the brain influences someone's behaviour, emotion, and cognition. Different parts of the brain are responsible for specific functions, but the entire brain works together to do an activity.

For example, while reading this text, parts of your brain responsible for vision, reading comprehension, and holding your phone, will be more active. On a brain image, these areas will appear in coloured splotches, while other areas will be grey. The grey areas are still active, just to a lesser degree.

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Debunking the "10 percent" myth

An individual who has suffered brain damage will be unable to do certain things as a result of that damage. If the 10 percent myth were true, damage to about 90 percent of the brain wouldn't affect daily functioning.

But studies show that damaging even a small part of the brain can interfere with a function. Damage to the Broca's area prevents proper formation of words, but comprehension of language remains intact.

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CURATED BY

alexandrak

Passionate tv nerd and lifelong web junkie. I love sleeping. Sleeping is a science and I study it.

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