Kaina

The "we use only 10% of our brains" myth is perpetrated in urban legends and advertising. See <a href="http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/tenper.html" target="_blank">U Washington neuroscience</a> for an explanation geared toward non-specialists. The reality shown by PET scans for brain metabolism, or functional magnetic resonance imaging, indicates that we use most of our brains most of the time. On the other hand, people can compensate for losing big sections of their brains, like through injury or stroke, but this shows the plasticity of the brain, not that the lost parts weren't active in the first place.

Peez

Hi UO,

Congratulations on your quest. I hope that my posts did not come across as too confrontational. That was not my intention. Rather, the questions that you have posed (while being very good questions), are difficult to answer because they are based on misconceptions (we only use part of our brain) and an incomplete understanding of what "evolution" is. It must be difficult for you in your present situation, but I hope that you will stick with it. A couple of things to think about:

The people who told you that we don't use all our brain cells are misinformed at best, lying at worst. In any case, they do not sound like a good source of information and understanding about biology (at least).

There are two things at issue here: the common descent of all living things on earth (the history of evolution, if you will), and the theory of evolution. The former is supported by such a massive body of evidence that it is considered a fact. The latter is simply a proposed explanation (a mechanism) for the former. So far, it is the only scientific explanation offered, and it appears to be valid.

Evolution is not accepted because people resist changing their minds, it is accepted in spite of people resisting a change. At one time, virtually everyone accepted that living things were created by one or more gods. It was the compelling evidence that forced people to recognize that living things share a common ancestor (and we have even more evidence now).

Don't take somebody's word for it (including mine!). Do your own research, find out what Darwinian evolution really is, explore the evidence. We would be happy to clarify things here, as much as we can.


Peez

Bubba

Uncle Onion, for what it's worth the quest is worth it. I am Christian but not conservative. Having made the same journey that you are undertaking I can assure you that the evidence for special creation 6000 years ago is nil and the evidence for common decent is overwhelming. But don't take my word. Check it out for yourself. You will be amazed at the lies that are given in the name of "creationism..."

Bubba

tronvillain

It seems entirely possible that we have more brain cells than we need, in that our huge brains might be due largely to "runaway" sexual selection or intraspecies competition.

tribalbeeyatch

I guess that really depends on your definition of "need". It's quite clear, though, that we don't have any more neurons than we use.

tronvillain

Right.

Asha'man

Uncle_onion: I recently ran across a website from a former JW, and I thought you might be interested in taking a look.

<a href="http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/smcdownlds/Philo2.html" target="_blank">Steve McRoberts</a>

As for fossil evidence, I tend to feel that all fossils are evidence of evolution, and all are also examples of transitional forms. However, you might want to take a look at the Talk.Origins FAQ on<a href="http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/faq-transitional.html" target="_blank">Transitional Fossils</a>. It describes some of the better examples.

uncle_onion

Thanks for all the help. I shall be doing a lot of research ove rthe next few months so be warned!!!

UO

uncle_onion

Here is one of the quotes from a Jw publication:

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*** w85 1/15 16-17 A Government That Accomplishes What Man Cannot ***
The mind has a huge potential for learning, even in man’s present imperfect condition. But this is only a fraction of what it will be able to learn in the New Order, where sin will not block its functioning. In The Brain Book the author states: “Within our own heads lies one of the most complex systems in the known universe. Its power and versatility far surpass that of any man-made computer.” He adds: “It is frequently stated that we use only 10 percent of our full mental potential. This, it now appears, is rather an overestimate. We probably do not use even 1 percent—more likely 0.1 percent or less.”


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quote:
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*** g95 10/22 8 Designed to Live Forever ***
Neuroscientists say that during our present life span, we use just a small part of our potential brain power, only about 1/10,000, or 1/100 of 1 percent, according to one estimate. Think about it. Is it reasonable that we would be given a brain with such miraculous possibilities if it was never to be used fully? Is it not reasonable that humans, with the capacity for endless learning, were actually designed to live forever?


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Amen-Moses

This is probably true for creationists.

Amen-Moses