There is a persistent "information" published in the lay press that "we use only 10 % of our brain capacity".

Is this information true ? Where it was originated ? How do you measure "brain capacity" ?

There is an interesting consequence if this figure is true. We know that natural selection gradually leads to the atrophy of organs which are not used (e.g.: the tail, the appendix, or the third molar teeth). Therefore, if we are not using our full brain capacity (at least in 99.9 % of mankind), one would expect a decrease in the number of neurons.

I would like to know who has more information (or opinion) about this.

Dr. Silvia Helena Cardoso, PhD, Psychobiologist, Brazil

Comment 1 - Dr.Renato M.E. Sabbatini, Director, Center for Biomedical Informatics State University of Campinas, Brazil.

Comment 2 - Dr. Sergio A. Strejilevich, Equipo de Investigaciones Clínicas Serv. Psicopatología, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Comment 3 - Dr.Irvine J Eidelman MB ChB MMed (Psych) Specialist Psychiatrist, Cape Town, South Africa

Comment 4 - Prof. Joseph J. Strout, Department of Neuroscience, MS, UCSD, USA

Comment 5 - MStoker978@aol.com

Comment 6 - Dr. Jeff Hollerman, Department of Psychology Allegheny College Meadville, PA, USA

Comment 7 - Prof. Roger Aveyard, Counselor, Mental Health Practicioner, Beatrice, Nebraska, USA

Comment 8 - Dr. Cynthia Bailey, Ph.D., Sarasota FL, USA

Comment 9 - KV Thilo - kthilo@ion.ucl.ac.uk

Comment 10 - Mr. Igor Catunda - TQC Consultant, S.J.dos Campos - SP - Brasil

Comment 11 - Mr. Jens Groth, Student of math and philosophy, Aarhus, Denmark

Comment 12 - Mr. Ken Lee - klee@saltspring.com