What percentage of brain we use to study - study techniques

You have probably heard it said that we only use 10% of our brain. This is one of the most widespread fallacies about the brain, and although many believe it, you will only see this claim made by people outside of science, such as advertisers or pseudoscientists. You will not find a health professional endorsing this claim. This idea has become so popular that some claim to know how to increase the use of the brain, based on the misconception that the remaining 90% is "inactive".

In this lesson, we will explain the truth behind this myth.

The Myth

This myth is often mistakenly attributed to Albert Einstein, although it most likely arose in the late 19th century, when scientists of the time found cognitive functions in only 10% of the brain. It was also believed that this small part of the brain was only activated at specific times.

On the other hand, neurons, the brain cells, only represent about 10% of the brain, while glial cells occupy the rest and are involved in functions related to learning.

As mentioned before, this is a neuromyth that has been assumed to be true in popular culture, and some industries have used it to support their products or ideas. An example of this is the advertising industry, where this myth is used to market products through campaigns and advertisements.

The Reality

So what percentage of our brain do we actually use? We use 100% of our brain, but since it is an extremely active organ, it consumes 20% of the oxygen we breathe and 50% of the body's glucose.

However, the brain does not activate all its areas at the same time, because if it did, the energy expenditure would be so high that it would leave us without energy to perform other activities for a prolonged period of time.

There is an exception to this rule. Thanks to neuroimaging, we know that at certain times, such as when we are asleep, all areas of the brain can be active. Studies such as positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance imaging have shown that, even in sleep, the brain is not inactive. However, when a severe injury or damage affects the brain, some of its functions are limited, which impacts the person's quality of life.

From the above, we can highlight the following:

• The brain functions as a whole unit, not by small percentages. If important areas are damaged, the nervous system is affected, and this has repercussions on a series of functions.

• The brain has an amazing capacity for adaptation. For example, if a specific part is severely damaged, neurons can redirect to that area to compensate for the loss. A practical example would be a person who loses hearing after an accident, in this case, the brain could improve other abilities, such as vision, making it easier for the person to develop the ability to read lips more accurately.