Brain Myths

Have you ever noticed those facts which begin with "Did you know that...?".

What I have observed is that most of those facts are utter crap. I have come across some so called facts about the human brain and how it functions in my lifetime. I have marveled at these for quite a long while, but suddenly, those "facts" have been crushed.

Apparently, they aren't facts at all. They are but rumours and myths that have been propagated among the masses due to various reasons.

Here, I shall mention a few that I think most people have heard of and believe to be true.

1) "We only use 10% of our brains"

This was probably the most astounding thing I had heard about the brain. To use just 10% but to have achieved so much progress, the human brain must be the most incredible thing.

But. No, we don't use only 10% of our brains. We use most of our brain, for one purpose or another. This is probably the biggest myth related to brain function and needs to be debunked ASAP.

2) "Left brain - right brain"

According to this theory, people are either left brained or right brained. 

Left brained people tend to have better critical thinking, logical sense and reasoning. Right brained people are more creative, expressive and better at reading emotions.

Until very recently, this theory had some credibility. But recently, a study has shown that this theory is false.

There are some functions that occur is the left side or right side of the brain, but there is no "left brained" or "right brained". The brain works together, as a whole.

In fact, the more you make use of both sides of the brain, the better the result of whatever it is you want to achieve.

3) "Brain cells can't be produced"

This is a rather comical myth. It says that you are born with X number of brain cells and when a cell dies, it can't be replaced. So eventually, you'll have to lose all your brain cells.

Obviously, this is not true. Brain cells die and are replaced at the same rate as the rest of the cells in the body are.

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Using our brain to find myths about the brain. Very meta, don't you think?

Update 1

4) "Sneezing kills brain cells"

Hahahahaha!!!