How much of our brain do we use?

by sleepy 16 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  Xander

  Not some mysterious super-genius capability waiting to be tapped.

  I would say that's true. Our brains DO have the ability to expand to add new information.

  But, would that be like saying we (as a country) only use 10% of our highway infrastructure? Or, only 10% of it's potential? No, of course not. We use 100% of it (or near enough), and we use it to 100% of its potential (or near enough). That roads can be added later is not really relevant.

  the WTS speculated and posited "how wonderful it will be to use our whole brains in paradise..",

  If you read the context whenever they say this, though, it is always obvious they are implying some kind of untapped genius - which is incorrect.

  Xander F
  (Unseen Apostate Directorate of North America - Ohio order)

  A fanatic is one who, upon losing sight of his goals, redoubles his efforts.
  --George Santayana
• 

  larc

  I heard this statment many years ago, and kind of believed it. Then, I started to ponder the subject, and came to a couple of conclusions. First of all, when someone asserts that we only use 10% of our brain, that is just speculation. No one can measure how much we use. Second, when someone asserts this, they are probably referring to information storage as reflected in how much information we pack into our heads via reading. Well, my friends are brains to a lot more than take in facts. So, our brains are working through all parts of it all the time. For example, when you get up from your computer to get something to eat, your brain is working, giving instructions to your body as to how to walk. This is called procedural memory, and your brain is doing it all the time, whether you are walking, swimming or playing golf. Also, your brain is monitering and filtering signals throught the reticular activating system at all times. A good example of this is a mother who is asleep and hears noices all night and stays asleep until she the cry from her baby awakes her. That is her brain working around the clock to help her tell the important from the unimportant.

  Your brain is working every time you speak, look at someone's face and remember them, or smell a flower and know that it is a rose, not a carnation, etc, etc. The brain is a small but an amazing place, as amazing as the stars and the depths of the oceans, in my opinion.
• 

  Hyghlandyr

  What about skill? A lof of things in memory are based on skill, and interest. I remember something because I have not even if I do not desire to remember it. I make myself, I use a skill. Other things I just remember, like the fact that at 1am that chick Aisha Tyler is going to be on E! on Talk Soup! BOOYAH!

  I think dudes posts about neurons and stuff sounds reasonable enough, and is as good an explanation as anything else. But if we are speaking strictly memory, personally I am not interested in the details, just how do I remember stuff I have to remember. If I did not keep forgetting to listen to my MegaMemory tapes I might get an answer to that question.

  List of desires:

  1...Learn to remember stuff.
  2...Learn to read rilly rilly fast
  3...Rapidly learn new languages.
  4...Learn some instruments
  5...Learn to chef stuff.
• 

  Farkel

  Fred Hall uses 100% of his brain capabilities.

  This is one scary world we live in!

  Farkel
• 

  sunscapes

  mox

  how would you possibly measure the total 'potential' of a brain and the current used 'potential?' while it might be meaningful to say that someone has an under-used mind, to try and place a percentage on it betrays a lack of understanding about how the brain actually works.

  I would say that a brain is much like a muscle, with use its connections and associations get stronger and more clearly defined. Like you say, it isn't a percentage measurement, per se, anymore than we can quanify use of our muscles, because they become larger and stronger, etc. with use and increased load. That is to say, to quantify a true upper limit would not be possible, as well.

  Not to mention, of course, other potentials not even tapped by most of the current human race...
• 

  apostate man

  My words about the 10% thing was not meant to be a factual statement. I have no idea what percentage of our brains we use. How can someone gage such a thing? What would you compare it to?

  Why are some people smarter than others? Is it because they are using more of their "Brain Potential"? AND YES, there have been many cases where a bullet damages the brain and the person lives. I saw this one documentary where this kid, for whatever reason, had a huge dent in his head and there was no brain matter in that area. Through cosmetic surgery, the docs fixed him up. He had every function available to him, although he did look like hell.

  If we are using 100% of our brain, wouldn't that mean that no more information can be stuffed in it?

  What about memory? Thats part of the brain. Do we retain everything? Why do some people have a photographic memory and others do not?

  I think most people are far from using 100% of thier brain. Maybe they use all of the tissue, but not all the potential.

  So for someone to say that we use 100% of our brain, they are wrong, as is the person who says we use 10%, even though that was me. I think it varies from person to person.

  Scientists and doctors don't even know how the brain works, much less know what percentage of it we use. They guestimate. Obviously neurons connecting has a large part in it, but what makes us think?

  Break the chains that bind you,
  unless, of course, you're into that sort of thing.
• 

  SYN

  If we didn't use our entire brain, it wouldn't be so large.

  Soon we will find out ways to manipulate our chromosomes and artificially enhance our own minds. Shortly after this will come Singularity. Perhaps someone else here will take the onus on them of explaining Singularity. It's more than just an event - it is our predestiny, that point in time and space towards which we are heading unstoppably. Every new invention, every new idea, is part of Singularity. You cannot stop Singularity anymore than you can stop your stomach digesting your dinner.

  The only real question that remains is why we are heading towards Singularity in the first place. Does matter inately head towards the Singularity point by itself due to it's nature? Perhaps we are just the mental vehicle of Gaia - a tool for her to use to further her own, indefatigable purposes.

  I'll stop mumbling now!

  Seven006: "Have you tried drugs? Shooting up a little heroin might do the trick, it's hard to type when your stoned out of your mind. I don't know how TR does it!"