The Conversation Article: Monday’s medical myth - we only use 10% of our brain
The thought that most of us only use 10% of our brain is appealing because it means we have a whole lot of untapped potential waiting to be harnessed.
Unfortunately, that figure is off by about 90%. This myth has been variously (mis) attributed to William James, Albert Einstein, and even early neuroscience researchers.
While its exact origins are unclear, popular belief in this myth has persisted, and even strengthened, since the 1890s, despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary.