Dr Rick

*sigh*

A person could lose more than 50% of liver, kidney, thyroid or gonadal function without any major impact on survival or quality of life; the same is not true of the brain as even losing small portions of it to stroke or trauma can be incapacitating.

Just because an organ may have reserve capacity (a really nifty evolutionary development, by the way, that offers an organism the ability to survive during times of increased stress) does not mean that large portions of it go unused.

If you still think you use only 10% of your brain, please tell us what portions of it you could do without.

Rick

Clutch

Last time this howler came up, I posted a message saying that *of course* we only use 10% of our brains -- which explains why, 9 out of 10 times, when someone gets shot in the head the bullet goes through without hitting anything important. It's why brain injuries are so rarely fatal or even harmful, right?

Unfortunately, the things people actually say in all seriousness about the brain made my message ineffective as sarcasm or satire; a few people actually replied seriously, and a few others actually said crazier things and meant 'em!

scigirl

Yeah, just ask Kurt Cobain about that one.

So, people thought you were being serious, Clutch? Wow. 9/10 brain injuries are not fatal--riiiiight.

scigirl

Clutch

Yeah, but in their defense, there really were people saying things equally weird, but in all seriousness. I really miscalculated how transparently false a statement would have to be, in order to stand out from the writings of the genuine 10%-er crowd.

How about:

That's why removing someone's brain altogether only leaves them 10% below the average intelligence!

It all reminds me of my father, who had an angioplasty to reverse a 90% carotid blockage. He joked that after the procedure, we should all bring notepads to jot down his brilliant insights; after all, he'd been working on 10% blood supply for years, and look how well he'd been doing! Surely going to 100% would result in profundities too deep for the rest of us to digest!

The procedure worked fine, but no profundities yet, alas. Or we just haven't appreciated them as such...

Ought Naught

How do you "just know"?

Ought Naught

These people are obviously confused. Retaining brain function following brain injury doesn't mean that the injured parts aren't used, only that they aren't necessary.
This is utter nonsense. I've never heard or read a neurobiologist who held the opinion that the potential of the human brain is "infinite".

Herman Hedning

Well, somehow that site doesn't strike me as the most credible source of information I've ever seen. Have a look at <a href="http://www.h2net.net/p/nslade/" target="_blank">Neil Slade's Amazing Brain Music Adventure</a> and see for yourself.

[ July 22, 2002: Message edited by: Herman Hedning ]</p>

Ought Naught

Apparently enough people believe the 10% myth that an industry has arisen to meet the demand for brain books and brain music [edited to add]
<a href="http://www.h2net.net/p/nslade/order.html" target="_blank">Get 'em while they last</a>

The more skeptical among us might be inclined to dismiss Mr. Slade's "reknowned [sic] neurologists" and 'infinite brain potential' as being nothing more than a crass marketing fiction.

[ July 22, 2002: Message edited by: Ought Naught ]</p>

scigirl

Hello Ought Naught, and welcome to infidels!

You can introduce yourself <a href="http://iidb.org/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=forum&f=43" target="_blank">here</a> if you like. Enjoy the forums,

scigirl

[ July 22, 2002: Message edited by: scigirl ]</p>