I Can Use More of My Brain Than You!

Ever since i was young, there has been a general consensus among my friends that we can only use roughly 10% of our brains. Furthermore, if you can access more than 10% of your brain you will have access to superhuman powers such as telepathy and pyschokinesis. Some people have even gone as far as to use this myth to explain some religious view points. For example, if Adam and Eve were the origins of life then some imbreeding would have had to occured to create billions of people. Since we know imbreeding causes serious health problems, we would know that if Adam and Eve were the beginning of life and imbreeding had occured to create the population of the world, it only makes sense for us to only have access to 10% of our brains.

Although that last part of the myth is a bit far-fetched, the 10% part is not hence why so many people believe it. However, it is not even close to fact. Every person is constantly using 100% of their brains. Not one parts of the human brain is ever dormant, unless injured, even during sleep (Neuroscience for Kids). So where did this myth come from and why does it still exist?

In 1908, William James wrote, "We are making use of only a small part of our possible mental and physical resources." This quote could have been the start of the 10% myth but noone can ever no for sure. The reason this myth still exists today is because of the popular media. The popular falsely spreads the myth that you can only use 10% of your brain. Also, once enough people believe it and say it, other people start believing it too without even needing the evidence to support it. Eventually, the myth gets so out of hand that it is thought of as fact on a day to day basis throughout the world.