Is it True that Humans use only about 10% of Their Brains?

The brain is by far the most magnificent organ we possess. Its magnificence stretches from its complex design; all the way to the things it is capable of conceiving and producing. 

No surprise, then, that this brilliant organ is surrounded by a lot of intriguing claims, myths and facts. One of the most intriguing assertions about the brain is the long standing claim that an average human being only uses about 10% of their brain. 

This claim has been so popular that most tutelages about the mind-boggling nature of the brain include it. However, the supposition has gradually been falling out of favor with the scientific community.

For example, top ranked articles on Google are skewed towards quashing the claim rather than defending it, and most of them only clad with half-truth statements. 

Despite the strong dismissals that now roam the 10% claim; what remains evident is that there is more to read between the lines. The answer to the question of whether we use only 10% of our brains goes beyond a yes, or no answer. There are a lot of questions that need prior attention before we can either endorse, or entirely smash this claim.

Who came up with the 10% Figure? 

No doubt, establishing the exact origin and empirical backing has been a matter of interest to many. Neuroscientists, philosophers and psychologists have all been trying to establish the exact origin of this claim, if not to find evidence for it. Unfortunately, all this effort hasn’t been able to pinpoint an exact source.

Nonetheless, there are a few big names that are implicated in the obscure origins of the claim. The idea that we only use a small portion of our brains is strongly linked to the Psychologist William James, who in his book titled ‘The Energies of Men’ wrote the following: 

“We are making use of only a small part of our possible mental and physical resources”

However, nowhere in this book does William make note of a specific percentage of the brain; and, most people argue that in writing this, William didn’t mean we only use part of our physical  brain.

In most articles that try to establish the history of this claim, it is Thomas Lowell who is often linked to the 10% aggregate. In the foreword to Dale Carnegie’s book; ’How to Win Friends and Influence People’, Thomas wrote, “Professor William James of Harvard used to say that the average man develops only ten percent of his latent mental ability.” 

But still, there is strong evidence that suggests that the 10% brain allegation was already going round before Thomas had written the foreword in question. For instance, the World Almanac 1929 contained the following line, “Scientists and psychologist tell us that we only use about TEN PERCENT of our brain power”.

Another big name that is caught up in the claim is world famous Physicist Albert Einstein. It is alleged that Einstein might have used the 10% claim to explain his cosmic towering Intellect. 

What does the Supposition Really Imply?

Because we couldn’t trace the origin of the 10% figure- let us, for now, assume the average man uses only a small portion of his brain, but not necessarily around 10%.

So, let’s rephrase the initial question as follows: Is it true that humans only use a small portion of their brains? In this paraphrased form, there are at least two main reasons why we shouldn’t be quick in quashing the so called ‘10% myth’ entirely. 

Firstly, there is so much that we still don’t understand about the brain, the human mind and consciousness. 

Secondly, there is a quite intelligible alternate explanation for this supposed myth. It is only fair that we analyze the claim under the subjective interpretation of this alternate explanation before shredding the claim to pieces. 

It would also suffice to mention that evidence against the claim, is just as ill- documented as evidence in support of it.

People go straight into refuting, or supporting the claim without making clear what they are really talking about; which is actually inadequate for something as complicated as the brain. When we say small portion of the brain, we may still ask, small portion of what exactly in the brain? Is it that we use a small portion of our brain’s regions? 

Well, as per scientific evidence, all of the brains regions are ever active. MRI scans have irrefutably shown that while some regions of the brain may show hyper-activity when performing some specific tasks, practically all regions of the brain are active all the time; even at rest, and in sleep.

Perhaps, the claim talks about the number of brain cells, and not the regions, that are involved in cognitive processes. This too has been refuted on the grounds that when brain cells become dormant, they die, thus, all living brain cells must somehow be kept active if they are to be kept alive.

If not brain regions, and not brain cells, what then could people be talking about when they say we only use a small portion of our brains? 

Now, let’s recall the paraphrased version of the claim, is it true that humans only use a small portion of their brains? The brief answer to this question is a resounding, yes! What’s important here is to acknowledge that for an organ that is as complex as the brain, the word use does not carry a simple connotation.

William James was 100% right when he said that we make use of only a small part of our mental resources – Those resources being the collective population of brain cells, and the different parts of the brain.  

Being a complex system, a lot of the brains resources, though active they may be, are actually going to waste. “Wasted on what?” You may ask. Things such as incoherent thoughts, anxieties, complexes and disorders all pry with the brains resources, not for the overall benefit of the one who possesses the brain but to their detriment. 

Thus, in a very significant sense of the word, the largest part of the brains resources are not being used, they are being dissipated. It is true that MRI may indicate that virtually all of the brain is continuously active, 24-7, the reality remains that it is a very small proportion of the brain that we actually use for constructive cognitive processes – The most of these resources go to waste. 

Now, so far as synonyms go, waste and use, are not exactly a perfect couple. 

In this manner, the brain can be likened to how the whole of society operates, so much potential to make a better world for everyone, so much potential to end things such as hunger, poverty, sicknesses, and war; but due to overall misappropriation of resources, the aggregate output is far less than the aggregate input. Alas! The evils persist, while great amounts of labor, food, and medicine just sink into overall waste.