“Did you know we only use 10% of our brain?” my dad excitedly told me after watching a Facebook video. I sighed and reminded him not to believe everything he saw online. But when a science student friend of mine repeated this, I nearly shouted, “Why do you even believe that, despite having billions of neurons firing every millisecond?!”

This myth is stuck so deep in our heads, perhaps in that supposed ‘10%’, that people think unlocking the rest will turn them into Professor X. Sorry to burst your bubble, but even Albert Einstein used the same amount of brainpower as the rest of us!

How Did This Myth Start?

We can’t really blame anyone for this widespread misconception. It all started with a misunderstood statement by William James in his 1907 article , The Energies of Men, where he said, “We are making use of only a small part of our mental and physical resources”. He never said we use just 10% of our brain! Somehow, this statement got misinterpreted and spread like wildfire. The fact that neurons make up roughly 10% of all brain cells may have also contributed to this false belief.

The Reality Check

A survey conducted by neuroscientist Suzana Herculano-Houzel revealed that 59% of college students and 48% of graduate students still believe this myth. That’s a shocking number of well-educated people falling for outdated pseudoscience! In reality, your brain is always in overdrive, even when you’re just waiting for that WhatsApp text to pop up. While you sit there, your neurons are busy predicting responses, analyzing emotions, and preparing you for every possibility: excitement, relief, or the dreaded “seen but no reply.”

Brain Facts That Will Blow Your Mind

• This supermachine of yours makes up only 2% of your body weight but devours 20% of your daily calories. That’s like a tiny, overworked employee demanding a massive paycheck!
• Scientists use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to monitor brain activity. This fancy tech uses magnetic fields and radio waves to track blood flow and oxygen levels, revealing which areas of the brain are working at any given moment.
• Although not all neurons fire at once, fMRI scans show that most brain regions remain active, even when you’re asleep. Your brain is always sensing, interpreting, monitoring, and planning, even if you’re dreaming about your next vacation.

A Man Lived a Normal Life with Just 10% of His Brain!

Sounds like proof of the myth, right? Not quite! In 2007, The Lancet published a case of a 44-year-old Frenchman who had unknowingly lived with a severely reduced brain due to hydrocephalus, a condition where excess fluid fills the brain cavity. Despite this, he lived a normal life, had a family, and held a job. His IQ was 84, below average but still functional. Neuroscientist Axel Cleeremans noted, “He wasn’t bright, but he was perfectly capable.” This case doesn’t prove the 10% myth; it highlights the brain’s incredible adaptability. Your brain constantly rewires itself in response to experiences, a phenomenon called neuroplasticity. It’s like a living, dynamic circuit board, adjusting connections based on what you do and learn.

A Quick Fact Check
Your brain actually becomes more active when you try not to think! (Greicius, 2003)

Are We Using Our Brains the Right Way?

Instead of worrying about how much of our brain we use, let’s focus on how we use it. The fact that so many people believe this myth just because they saw it online shows how easily misinformation spreads.

Here’s a scary stat : Indians watch an average of five hours of online video content daily, while the global average isn’t much better at four hours. Kids are learning to scroll before they learn to write! This unhealthy dopamine rush can lead to focus issues and shorter attention spans.

Moral of the story? Don’t believe everything you hear, especially about your brain. Instead, use it wisely!

Written by: Tanvi Mongia
Edited by: Dr. Reshma Patil