By Andrea Hargraves 
The Master of Neuroscience says there are many myths about the brain. The information we use only 10% of it, for example, is false
Considered the most important organ in the human body by doctors, the brain is a box of secrets. No wonder it is surrounded by a series of mysteries. While scientists do not reveal some pieces of this puzzle about the functioning of the region responsible for intelligence, there are myths that persist as absolute truths.
To put an end to these false narratives, the Column Claudia Mirelles Talking to Neuroscientist Livia Siachi, a professional from Supera Gymnastics for their brain training program. According to the specialist, there are so many myths about the main organ of the nervous system that it is difficult to list them all. “The most famous of them is that we only use 10% of the brain, which is not true,” he explains.
“The brain is an active organ that lasts all the time as long as we are alive. At every moment, different regions of the organ interact through electrochemical changes that characterize nerve impulses,” he testifies. When addressing how the zone works, Lívia makes an intriguing comparison: “It’s like a continuous dance combined between activity and rest zones.”
Next, look at the myths and facts about the brain!
1. Does brain size determine human intelligence? myth.
Studies revealed that Albert Einstein’s brain weighed less than normal in area. Livia explains that scientists attribute the connections between organ regions and their efficiency more to intelligence than size.
2. Does the brain feel pain? TRUE.
The specialist says that if someone pricks your brain tissue, you will definitely not feel any discomfort. This is because pain is perceived by sensory fibers, called nociceptors, located in different areas of the body. However, the brain lacks these sensory ligaments.
“Interestingly, the brain can perceive pain signals from pain receptors sent from all over the body, but since they are not there, it does not feel pain,” highlights the master in neuroscience.
3. Does a person use only 10% of the brain? myth.
As the neuroscientist claims, this interrogation goes back nearly 100 years. “In 2013, 65% of North Americans believed this myth,” he laments. Unless an individual has brain damage, most areas of a normally functioning organ are active at all times and to a certain extent, explains the professional.
4. Is the brain fully developed by the age of 18? myth.
According to the neuroscientist, the area continues a continuous process of development after adolescence and into adulthood. He notes that “the prefrontal cortex in particular, which is important for thinking and decision-making, does not fully mature until an individual is in their early twenties.”
5. Can the brain be good at multitasking? myth.
The neuroscientist argues that the brain, in terms of voluntary tasks related to the use of attention, does not act as a good friend in the face of various duties. During involuntary activities, such as regulating blood pressure and breathing, the organ performs them simultaneously. When a brain region experiences two or more stimuli that require concentration, quickly, only one task will be thought of.
6. Does learning happen when new cells are added to the brain? myth.
second Livia SiachiThe learning process occurs when the connections between the brain and cells change: “Cells can, in fact, be added to an organ, however, the consumption of knowledge does not require the addition of others. When pursuing a new skill, such as language or sports, brain cells activate together to form connections.”
7. Is the brain the fattest organ in the body? TRUE.
The word fat has the meaning of being the enemy of health, but in the case of the brain, the condition is exactly the opposite. The most important organ of the nervous system needs these essential nutrients to perform its duties. The component is most abundant in the region, around 60%. However, the hard tissues of this important part of the human body are different from those of the abdomen and buttocks.
8. Does man have the largest brain of all mammals? myth.
Sperm whales are toothed predators, and hold the title of the largest brain of any living species. These aquatic animals have a nervous system five times larger than that of humans.
9. Can some people taste shapes and colors? TRUE.
Although it sounds strange, this phenomenon has been named kinesthesia, a word of Greek origin meaning “to perceive together”. People with this ability can hear, smell, taste, or feel color pain. Others are able to taste shapes or experience colors and tactile sensations while listening to music, ”explains the expert.
10. Does the left or right brain control determine whether a person is more creative or logical? myth.
“Contrary to popular belief and the hundreds of images that perpetuate this myth, humans cannot be categorized by greater right or left brain use. Talents such as creativity, language processing, spatial ability, and reasoning require integrated teamwork from both hemispheres,” the neuroscientist asserts.
11. Are the brains of boys and girls anatomically the same? TRUE.
Livia, MA in neuroscience, argues that there are no anatomical differences between the brains of different sexes. She asserts that changes in the organ are shaped by the learning and stimuli that children receive.
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