Seasons

Actually, I think where that 10% quote came from is from some psychologists or scientist who somehow (somehow) figured that Einstein only used a. 10% of his brain, b. 10th of 1 percent. Now, forgetting all that, recently studies have confirmed that even as we age, our brain keeps learning, and the rate of learning only slows because the rest of the body is shutting down. The brain could go on learning and learning if supported by a healthy body. Unfortunately, I haven't got the sources with me right now, I'd have to look them up. This is a bigger study than anything that could be done at the University of Washington, and probably more up to date than the one for kids that they have.

Okay, if we study a dead brain (Einstein's or anyone else's) we use 0 % of our brains--generally dead people have no brain waves. If you go to the Neuroscience for Kids site above, they discuss possible origins for this myth (inlcuding Einstein) , and why they are all false leads. But living people use all of their brians.

Now, I have to say that by "use" I do not mean "use up". You can continue learning through out your life. The brain wants to be used. In fact, the more you use your brain, the more "brain" you will have. You will actually strenghten your neural networks and grow more synaptic connections by using your brain. Regularly using your brain can ward off or slow down Alzheimer's and other brain decay. Keeping you body healthy keeps you brain healthy, and regularly excerising and doing logic games or puzzels can keep your neurons humming to a fine old age.

As for the site, it is not only for studies at the University of Washington. Visit it. They have up to date material. I've used it when teaching AP Psychology and it is a great resource. The "For Kids" only means they explain scientific data so that everyone can understand it.

ah, I see. thanks.

And now for something completely different:

Russian "astrologist" Marina Bai has filed a lawsuit in the Presnensky district court in Moscow against the U.S. government's NASA, claiming that her business will be ruined if the agency is allowed, as planned, to crash a rocket into the Tempel 1 comet on July 4 to see what can be learned from the experience. Bai said the collision will "interfere with the natural life of the universe," which will in turn harm her "system of spiritual values," and she seeks 8.7 billion rubles (about US$311 million, which is the reported cost of the entire mission). [Moscow News, 4-19-05]

OMG!!! what a shmo!

I mean, who in their right minds...

the entire cost of the mission, because of her own spiritual beliefs!!!!!

I think that's $piritual belief$... (Anyone know what the symbol for rubles is?)

I got an email about a physisist that invented a "duplicator" - it has a cartrage of particles and can arange them into a 3 dimensional object on demand - it is as big as a few tables, and costs $20,000 - the objects aren't finished products, but parts that need to be assembled. His goal is that in the near future, average consumers will have desktop "fabricators" that just as a printer can print out data on demand, it will be able to fabricate designs downloaded from the internet. these designs could be anything from mp3 players to remote control cars.

I recently heard someone quote humans as using 12% at best, but they were using it in a comparison of neural pathways vs. "unused matter"

On that "unused" topic. This may be an urban myth but I heard that there was a Woman in San Francisco that was trying to write a self modifying network security system. She set up two stations: the attacked with her program and the attacker which would send virus and faux hack attempts at an irregular rate. Supposidly the programs concept was a bunch of individual copies of the subroutine sets which the virus or hack would have more or less of an effect on. By comparing and adopting aspects that seemed to work (by what def.s I dont know) the master program and deleting from the subroutines those that didnt the thought was that the system would evolve. Where there were deletions random command string 'noise' would be injected into the space to allow for potential change.

After letting it run for a time she looked over the raw code to discover huge patches of blank space that when deleted caused the program to fail.

*rubs jaw*

Interesting, Rev. What "unused matter" did they say the brain contains? Are they referring to glial cells (cells that clean up after the neurons) or do they say there is something else in the brain taking up all the space? What exactly were they basing their statements on? Most of the brain is, in fact, made up of neurons. Each part of the brain has specific functions (although there is some pasticity when functions are not used or part of the brain is damaged). If any part of the brian is damaged, it effects how the whole brain works. I think the "12 % neural pathways" is just another variation of the myth.

I don't know how memory storage works in the brain, but I would think that we have unused storage capacity.