Are You Using Your Brain’s Full Capacity?
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janulla/iStock/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — A myth persists in popular culture that humans only use 10 percent of their brain. People have even gone so far as to explore the idea that tapping in to the unused parts of our brains would give us supernatural powers, as seen in the 2014 film Lucy.
Dr. Ashley Winter, urologist in residency at New York Presbyterian Hospital, explains:
“We love the idea that we only use 10 percent of our brain, it gives us this feeling of untapped potential that if only we could use more of our brain we would be able to move objects with thought or see into the future. But in reality, this isn’t true.”
There are two types of cells in the brain — neurons, the thinking cells, and glial cells, which perform maintenance functions.
“And while you’re using all of these cells, they’re not all doing the thinking,” says Winter.
So no, you can’t achieve special powers or telekinesis by using 100 percent of your brain — in fact, you’re already using 100 percent.
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