by Melody Clearwater

Created on: October 22, 2010   Last Updated: October 29, 2010

The idea that humans use only ten percent of their brains is just a myth.  This myth has several possible origins and no scientific backing to support it.  In fact, the idea that humans use only ten percent of their brains is almost laughable because the brain is responsible for so much more than “thinking”.  Scientific research has shown the brain to be responsible for many different functions throughout the human body.  These involve functions that we can control, such as walking or running, as well as functions we cannot control, such as heartbeat.

In order to refute this myth, one must first have an understanding of the human brain.  Our brain is the center of the human nervous system.  The brain rests suspended in cerebral fluid within the cranium of the human skull.  The brain is attached to the spinal cord, which in turn is attached to the thousands of nerves that spread throughout the body.  These nerves continuously send sensory information to the brain, such as weather an object the person is touching is hot or cold, rough or smooth, etc.  In turn, the brain can command the nerves to send information to the muscles for movement.

The human brain can anatomically be divided into different regions.  The brain can be divided into the left and right hemispheres, which are then connected by a bundle of nervous tissue called the corpus callosum.  The left hemisphere controls sensory information and movement on the right side of the brain, and the right hemisphere controls sensory information and movement on the left side of the brain.  The cerebral cortex is the wrinkled layer of tissue that covers the forebrain.  The brainstem, which is located at the base of the brain, controls automatic processes such as breathing and heart rate.  The cerebellum is located above the brain stem and is responsible for balance and coordination of the human body.

The human cerebral cortex can also be divided into specific functional areas.  For instance the frontal lobe, which is located at the front of the brain, is responsible for recognizing consequences from current actions and for understanding social norms.  The parietal lobe, located on the top of the brain, plays important roles in integrating sensory information from various parts of the body, knowledge of numbers and their relations, and in the manipulation of objects.  The occipital lobe is responsible for visual sensory

• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next Page >>