• Question: Why do we only use 5% of our brains what's the other 95% for?

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      Asked by Robyn to Angus, Catherine, Jenni, Melissa, Waqar on 16 Jun 2016.
      • Photo: Angus Cook

        Angus Cook answered on 16 Jun 2016:

        This is a common myth about the brain. We actually use all of the brain, though different areas are more active depending on what the brain is doing. Catching a ball, for example, requires a different area than talking to your classmates.*

        That said, the brain is a fascinating object to study, and we still have large gaps in our understanding of it, and how its structure and function relate to our own consciousness.

        *probably. I am not actually a neuroscientist, but I believe these two actions require different bits of the brain.

      • Photo: Jenni Rodd

        Jenni Rodd answered on 16 Jun 2016:

        Hi Robyn
        Angus’s answer is completely correct. And I am a Neuroscientist 🙂

      • Photo: Melissa Ladyman

        Melissa Ladyman answered on 20 Jun 2016:

        I find the brain really fascinating. We know what the brain is made up of- cells and neurons, with different chemicals whizzing around telling your body to react to all sorts of things. But we still don’t know how memory works. Or what causes depression. There’s so much still to learn!

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