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Science Facts That Will Shock and Surprise You

You Probably Use 100% of Your Brain

by Tom Currie

You Probably Use 100% of Your Brain

The saying that you only use 10% of your brain is attributed to pioneering American philosopher and psychologist William James, a man with medical training who was fascinated with the function and purpose of the brain. Unfortunately, when James made the statement he could only have been speaking metaphorically, as medical science at the time had no way of actually looking at a functioning brain and measuring the percent used.

When early neurological scanning technology came into existence, it picked up activity in a few areas, reinforcing the myth. Scientists now understand that even inactive neurons are playing a part in keeping body and mind running smoothly. Unfortunately, hucksters have been playing off the “ten percent” myth for decades—famed scam artist and spoon-molester Uri Geller often implied that his mysterious talents derived from all that leftover thinkin’ meat.

Photo Credit: Flickr user Digital Shotgun