7 Myths about our Brain

maroush · Jun 14th, 2009, 02:39 PM

1. We use only 10% of our brain

That is untrue. PET scans of the brain show that much of the brain is active. From an evolutionary point of view it does not make sense for the brain to develop 90% of useless brain either. It is established and proven that we use 100% of our brain, but not all of it at the same time, we use different parts for different reasons but overall the whole brain is used. Therefore do not be tricked by those adverts offering to tap into your unused brain power as you probably don’t have such a thing as unused brain.

2. When brain cells die they cannot be repaired.

Recent research has identified techniques for “growing” new brain cells when old ones are damaged

3. Our brain is like a computer.

That is untrue, first of all computers are digital while our brain is analogues, as the phone or telegraph, second our brain is much more complex then a computer, until molecular computers (and there are hopes) or some other device of that sort are developed comparing our brain to a computer is an oversimplification and an insult to the beautiful machine nature has given us.

4. The blanket-slate myth

This is the myth that the brain is like a clean blanket ready to be furnished. This is untrue also as genetics has a role to play in the formation and operation of our brain, nonetheless the environment has a great role to play also, genetics and environment perform and intertwined dance in the development and growth of our brain.

5. The brain matures by the age of 5

Much of the brain growth and reorganisation occurs between the ages of 5 to 20 but the brain has the capacity to grow throughout life.

6. The sponge myth

The sponge myth suggests that the brain can absorb so much information, when it’s full it’s full and the brain learn just by exposure to the world, therefore it is passive in its learning.
Both of the suggestions are untrue, it appears that the brains capacity to learn seems almost limitless, what limits it are only the priorities and motivations of the learner. Learning is a very active process which requires doing something on the part of the learner which might be just imagining something. The brain is its own teacher.

7. The mediation myth

Some believe that the brain learns better when relaxed which is why some buy a tape recorder and play it during sleep. Psychological experiments have shown that this is untrue, further the brain learns best in a state of arousal as you are focused.

Hmmm... i really believed some of these to be true... like the first one

Any other myths people care to share?

InToXiCaTeD · Jun 15th, 2009, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maroush

1. We use only 10% of our brain

That is untrue. PET scans of the brain show that much of the brain is active. From an evolutionary point of view it does not make sense for the brain to develop 90% of useless brain either. It is established and proven that we use 100% of our brain, but not all of it at the same time, we use different parts for different reasons but overall the whole brain is used. Therefore do not be tricked by those adverts offering to tap into your unused brain power as you probably don’t have such a thing as unused brain.

Hmmm... i really believed some of these to be true... like the first one

We do use all parts of our brain (100% of it). But that 10% pointer that we hear, most of the times, is about the functioning capacity of our brain in terms of ability, performance and the resulting achievements. So, I think it still stands true that most of us get way less out of our brains than it's capable of.

maroush · Jun 16th, 2009, 09:17 AM

Yopu're probably right, Intoxi....

Another interesting one i found:

Playing Mozart to babies boosts their intelligence.

This is known as the 'Mozart Effect.' It was originally proposed by two researchers, Rauscher and Shaw, who reported a small gain for pre-schoolers who had listened to Mozart.
However, it turns out that their finding was merely a fluke (what researchers call a Type 1 error). In other words, a couple of the kids scored high on the day of testing, and a couple of other kids scored unusually low, for reasons that had nothing to do with the fact that Mozart was played.
Research into the subject has since found that there is no Mozart effect.
This has not stopped the so-called effect from becoming a multi-million dollar industry.

i guess i will find out in the coming years if this worked... or not....

K337 · Jun 16th, 2009, 03:15 PM

milly

nice post maroush

Arleitter · Jun 17th, 2009, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maroush

1. We use only 10% of our brain

That is untrue. PET scans of the brain show that much of the brain is active. From an evolutionary point of view it does not make sense for the brain to develop 90% of useless brain either. It is established and proven that we use 100% of our brain, but not all of it at the same time, we use different parts for different reasons but overall the whole brain is used. Therefore do not be tricked by those adverts offering to tap into your unused brain power as you probably don’t have such a thing as unused brain.

2. When brain cells die they cannot be repaired.

Recent research has identified techniques for “growing” new brain cells when old ones are damaged

3. Our brain is like a computer.

That is untrue, first of all computers are digital while our brain is analogues, as the phone or telegraph, second our brain is much more complex then a computer, until molecular computers (and there are hopes) or some other device of that sort are developed comparing our brain to a computer is an oversimplification and an insult to the beautiful machine nature has given us.

4. The blanket-slate myth

This is the myth that the brain is like a clean blanket ready to be furnished. This is untrue also as genetics has a role to play in the formation and operation of our brain, nonetheless the environment has a great role to play also, genetics and environment perform and intertwined dance in the development and growth of our brain.

5. The brain matures by the age of 5

Much of the brain growth and reorganisation occurs between the ages of 5 to 20 but the brain has the capacity to grow throughout life.

6. The sponge myth

The sponge myth suggests that the brain can absorb so much information, when it’s full it’s full and the brain learn just by exposure to the world, therefore it is passive in its learning.
Both of the suggestions are untrue, it appears that the brains capacity to learn seems almost limitless, what limits it are only the priorities and motivations of the learner. Learning is a very active process which requires doing something on the part of the learner which might be just imagining something. The brain is its own teacher.

7. The mediation myth

Some believe that the brain learns better when relaxed which is why some buy a tape recorder and play it during sleep. Psychological experiments have shown that this is untrue, further the brain learns best in a state of arousal as you are focused.

Hmmm... i really believed some of these to be true... like the first one

Any other myths people care to share?

Informative.........Thanks

Iggle · Jun 22nd, 2009, 12:20 AM

Great post! Thanks for sharing!

zero~zero~seven · Jun 22nd, 2009, 06:10 AM

Quote:

we use different parts for different reasons but overall the whole brain is used.

Quote:

Much of the brain growth and reorganization occurs between the ages of 5 to 20 but the brain has the capacity to grow throughout life.

Quote:

The sponge myth suggests that the brain can absorb so much information, when it’s full it’s full and the brain learn just by exposure to the world, therefore it is passive in its learning.

Quote:

it appears that the brains capacity to learn seems almost limitless, what limits it are only the priorities and motivations of the learner.

Quote:

Learning is a very active process which requires doing something on the part of the learner which might be just imagining something. The brain is its own teacher.

Quote:

the brain learns best in a state of arousal as you are focused.

^^ these r true

COLD_FIRE · Jun 22nd, 2009, 10:29 AM

Great info. Cheers.

ravage · Jun 25th, 2009, 11:46 AM

8. We dont all use the same brain. We each have individual brains.

also I dont know what a blanket-slate is. sounds hard to write on.

diwana · Jun 25th, 2009, 07:24 PM

Maybe I am being lazy but would appreciate sources, references or links.

striver_truth · Aug 12th, 2009, 09:52 AM

nice post

Khumar · Aug 12th, 2009, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diwana

Maybe I am being lazy but would appreciate sources, references or links.

my textbooks are sources. please consult them

Iyla · Sep 5th, 2009, 02:19 AM

thanks 4 sharing.

raheelmushtaq · Sep 30th, 2009, 04:41 AM

nICE i usED TO THut I Was Einstien

CuteGurl · Oct 1st, 2009, 07:19 AM

mera to waise he bheja nai chalta

~ Syn ~ · Oct 1st, 2009, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maroush

1. We use only 10% of our brain

That is untrue. PET scans of the brain show that much of the brain is active. From an evolutionary point of view it does not make sense for the brain to develop 90% of useless brain either. It is established and proven that we use 100% of our brain, but not all of it at the same time, we use different parts for different reasons but overall the whole brain is used. Therefore do not be tricked by those adverts offering to tap into your unused brain power as you probably don’t have such a thing as unused brain.

That explains Men !

diva786 · Oct 2nd, 2009, 07:32 PM

nice post!

freedom writer · Oct 4th, 2009, 04:34 PM

Interesting facts..... and the last . for sure ...we learn best in a state of arousal as we are focused.
agreed : )