Have you ever heard the idea that humans only use 10% of their brains? It’s a widely spread belief that has been circulating in popular culture for many decades, but the truth is that it’s a myth. According to existing evidence, people use 100% of their brains every day.

The origin of this myth is not quite known, but some people attribute it to a statement made by psychologist William James in 1907. However, James never put a percentage on it. Others say that Albert Einstein or Margaret Mead said it, but there is no quote attributed to either of them.

Eric Chudler, a neuroscientist and professor at the University of Washington, says there is no scientific evidence to suggest that humans use only 10% of their brains. Instead, all existing evidence shows that people use 100% of their brains on a daily basis. Scientists often use brain imaging techniques, such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) scans, to look at how the brain is functioning. When you look at a brain image, all parts of the brain are doing something — there’s no part of the brain that’s just sitting there inactive.

The notion that humans only use 10% of their brains is one of the most persistent and widely spread brain myths, according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The Association for Psychological Science and Beth Israel Lahey Health Winchester Hospital also call the popular belief a myth on their websites.

The idea that humans only use 10% of their brains is a myth. People use 100% of their brains every day, and there is no scientific evidence to suggest otherwise. Brain imaging techniques show that all parts of the brain are active and working together to help us function in our daily lives. So, the next time you hear someone say that humans only use 10% of their brains, you can confidently tell them that it’s not true.