Unlocking the Myth: The Truth About Using 100% of Our Brain's Capacity

9 years ago, I watched a movie called “Lucy.” It was a good movie, and it was fascinating. For those who haven't seen it, it's about this woman who gains access to 100% of her brain's capacity and becomes superhuman. And ever since watching it, I can't stop thinking about what would happen if we could use our brains to their full potential. Is it even possible? What would it look like if we could use all of it?

This sci-fi thriller called "Lucy" presented this cool idea. The movie starred Scarlett Johansson as Lucy, and it exploited this long-held myth about human brain use - the claim that we only use 10% of our brains. We thought we would possess superhuman abilities if we could access 100% of them. But is there any truth to this claim?

Many experts have contested this claim, arguing that it's just a myth propagated by popular culture. However, the idea that humans could access the remaining 90% of their brains and perform extraordinary feats has captured the imagination of many people.

So in this blog post, we will dive into the science behind our brain's potential and the implications of fully unlocking its power.

What is The Film “Lucy” About?

The film, directed by Luc Besson, is a thrilling science-fiction action film about a young woman who is accidentally exposed to an experimental drug called CPH4 while working as a drug mule. As she ingests the drug, it unlocks the full potential of her brain, allowing her to use 100% of it. As Lucy's brain capacity increases, she develops extraordinary abilities such as telekinesis, mind control, and manipulating time.

Despite its controversial premise, "Lucy" has been praised for its stunning visuals and thought-provoking themes. Some viewers have even found inspiration in the film's message, using it as a metaphor for our untapped potential.

I highly recommend you to watch this provoking-thought movie. It is available on streaming; however, you would rent, buy or have a subscription here.

Our Brain at Work

The human brain is a remarkable organ that controls everything we think, feel, and do. It contains around 86 billion nerve cells, each of which can connect with up to 10,000 other nerve cells through 1,000 trillion connections - that's like a computer with a 1 trillion bit per second processor.

These nerve cells work together in complex ways to create our thoughts, memories, and actions. They're always changing and adapting as we learn new things and have new experiences. Contrary to popular belief, we don't just use a small part of our brain - we use the whole thing, but not all at once. Our brain conserves energy by only using the parts it needs for the task at hand.

Various parts of the brain are responsible for different things. The cerebral cortex controls conscious activities like movement and language, the cerebellum handles coordination and balance, and the amygdala processes emotions and memories.

One of the most important parts of the brain is the executive network, which plans, organizes, prioritizes, and carries out tasks. It's located in the front of the brain, in the prefrontal cortex. This area is also involved in self-control, managing impulses, and social behavior. The brain is constantly in use, even when we are sleeping.

The Power of Brain Enhancement

The film explores the potential outcome of using our brains at full capacity and whether it would lead to the evolution of our species. While the movie is fiction, it raises interesting questions about how our brains work. Although we use all parts of our brains, we do not use them all simultaneously. Various parts of our brains have distinct functions; we only use the parts required for the current task.

The question arises: What would happen if we used 100% of our brain capacity? The answer is that it would not result in superhuman abilities, as depicted in the movie. Using the full 100% of our brain capacity could be dangerous because it could lead to severe problems, such as seizures caused by too much neuronal activity, which is harmful and potentially life-threatening.

However, unlocking our brain's potential could improve cognitive performance, memory retention, and faster learning, aiding in the more effective understanding and treatment of brain-related disorders. Neuroscience research can help us discover more about the brain's potential and ways to improve its function.

Lifestyle factors such as regular physical exercise, a healthy diet, adequate sleep, and intellectual stimulation can effectively boost cognitive functioning. Mindfulness and meditation can also improve various cognitive functions, and learning new skills can create and strengthen neural pathways.

While it is possible to use our brains 100%, it is unlikely. Instead, we should focus on exploiting our brain's potential fully. We continually learn and adapt, shaping our brains through neuroplasticity, which describes the brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life. With proper training, practice, and stimulation, we can improve our cognitive skills, learn new ones, and recover from brain injuries.

The Origin of the Myth

The myth that humans only use 10% of their brains has been widely circulated for over a century. However, this belief is not supported by scientific evidence. It is believed to have originated from misinterpretations of scientific research in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Researchers had found that only certain brain parts were active during certain tasks, leading to the false conclusion that the rest of the brain was not being used. While it is true that certain areas of the brain are more active during certain tasks, the brain as a whole is active and involved in many processes throughout the day, even when we are not consciously aware of it.

Popular culture perpetuates this misconception over time, which often portrays the idea of unlocking the brain's full potential. However, the idea that we only use a small percentage of our brain's capacity is a myth. The brain is a complex and constantly active organ that performs various functions, including regulating bodily functions, processing sensory information, and controlling movement.

Recent research has shown that different brain regions are involved in different cognitive functions and that the brain is highly adaptable and able to reorganize itself in response to new experiences. This means that unlocking the brain's full potential is not a matter of using more of it but rather of developing new skills and abilities through practice and experience.

The Reality of Our Brain Usage

Neuroscience tells us a different story. Over the past few decades, advances in brain imaging technologies like functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) scans have given us a clearer picture of brain activity. We now know that every brain region has a known function and that we use all our brains over a day.

These technologies have allowed researchers to map out the various parts of the brain and their functions. For example, the frontal lobe is responsible for decision-making and problem-solving, while the occipital lobe processes visual information.

Moreover, these imaging techniques have shown that different brain parts work together, creating a complex network that helps us perform various tasks. While not all areas are active at once, each area has its specific function, and none are idle. Different brain areas are constantly firing and communicating, from complex tasks such as problem-solving and decision-making to simple, automatic tasks like breathing and blinking.

The brain represents approximately 3% of an average person's body weight but consumes about 20% of the body's total energy. The high energy consumption would be wasteful and dangerous if we only used 10% of the brain.

Good news! These technologies are constantly improving and evolving, opening new avenues for research and discovery in neuroscience.

Lucy's transformation from an ordinary human to a superhuman with remarkable physical and mental abilities by increasing her brain utilization from 10% to 100% is not based on scientific fact.

Although unlocking 100% of our brain's capacity may be fascinating, it is a myth. We already use all parts of our brains, but only some at a time. The movie "Lucy" may have been enjoyable, but it is a work of fiction and not based on scientific evidence.

The human brain is incredibly complex, and ongoing research can help us discover more about its potential and ways to improve its function. Adopting healthy lifestyles and engaging in brain training exercises can improve our cognitive abilities, learn new skills, and potentially recover from brain injuries.

Have you seen Lucy? What did you think about it? Let me know in the comments!

Source:

1. You Can't Use 100% of Your Brain—and That’s a Good Thing | Psychology Today

2. Do People Only Use 10 Percent of Their Brains? - Scientific American

3. How much of our brain do we actually use? Brain facts and myths (medicalnewstoday.com)