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Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: Martin Majercak on 07/07/2011 20:01:02

Title: How much of the brain do we use?
Post by: Martin Majercak on 07/07/2011 20:01:02
Martin Majercak  asked the Naked Scientists:
   Hey there,

My name's Martin n I have a question about human brain.  How is it with the quapacity of the brain that we use? Becouse theres this well known fact that we only use like ten percent of it, but I somewhere heard that we use as much of it as it is needed at the moment so it could be according to that like 90percent for example. But isnt it like that every input is stored somewhere in the brain like evry name,every face, every mathematic definition but it is just somewhere in the dark side of the brain librry far away from that part that we normaly use? Thank you for your time and answer sincierely. All the best.

Martin
What do you think?
Title:
Post by: @JennyinRome on 07/07/2011 13:06:42
@NakedScientists: not sure if i use 100% of my brain but I wouldn't want ANY of it removing thank you!

was tweeted by @JennyinRome
Title: How much of the brain do we use?
Post by: Kryptid on 07/07/2011 21:13:37
The idea that we only use 10% of our brain is a myth. The brain is notoriously greedy when it comes to energy consumption. If 90% of its mass is doing nothing but sitting around and burning calories without making itself useful by regulating hormone levels, responding to external stimuli, thinking creatively, etc., there would have been strong selective pressure to get rid of that extra brain mass during the time period before humans could grow and store their own excess food.
Title: How much of the brain do we use?
Post by: RD on 07/07/2011 21:24:48
http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=39877.msg360990#msg360990
Title: How much of the brain do we use?
Post by: Airthumbs on 07/07/2011 23:23:51
There is a part of the brain that can be removed that does not have any effect on the way we function and no one knows what it does. 

I cannot find any information about this though and only know of it due to watching a documentary.... This link will give you access to the doc. Warning, it is three hours long and as the introduction says is compelling and at times disturbing, I have to say I had a lump in my throat several times during it.  The part that is all about the brain is part three entitled, Broken Brains.  http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/brain-secret-history/