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Do We Really Use Only 10% of Our Brains?

Confident young student of color studying a plastic model of the human brain in front of a classroom.

Live Science

Elana Spivack

How much of the brain does each person use throughout their day?Is it really only "10%"? Reflecting on that age-old myth, this article explores present-day understanding of the brain's interconnectedness, revealing the inexplicable power of your most important organ. Researchers use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and other tools to measure evidence of brain activity levels. However, the brain's ability to adapt, based upon how the brain is used and skills that gain greater proficiency, creates myriad questions about how to determine an individual's brain capacity.

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"It's just such a funny myth. Is it 10% of energy metabolism? Is it 10% of electrical activity? Is it blood oxygenation levels? ... A better way to think about it is, do you even know what your capacity is? What could you be doing to reach more of your potential?"Julie Fratantoni, PhD, CCC-SLP, Head of Operations for The BrainHealth Project 
Cognitive neuroscientists like Dr. Fratantoni are working to better understand the brain's ability to rewire itself and strengthen cognitive functioning. Read the full article at Live Science

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