Comments on: History’s Top Brain Computation Insights: Day 3 http://www.neurevolution.net/2007/04/04/historys-top-brain-computation-insights-day-3/ Chronicling the cognitive revolution in neuroscience Sat, 05 Jul 2008 16:29:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: M.C. http://www.neurevolution.net/2007/04/04/historys-top-brain-computation-insights-day-3/#comment-419 M.C. Wed, 04 Apr 2007 16:29:13 +0000 http://www.neurevolution.net/2007/04/04/historys-top-brain-computation-insights-day-3/#comment-419 Yes, I've actually read historical accounts of Lashley's work inspiring the "only 10% of the brain is used" fallacy. His rats could recover from almost any lesion he gave them, so it seemed that we only need a small portion of our brain in the end. It's ironic that this was the popular interpretation, though, since Lashley emphasized equipotentiality (that the <i>whole brain</i> contributed to function equally). -MC Yes, I’ve actually read historical accounts of Lashley’s work inspiring the “only 10% of the brain is used” fallacy. His rats could recover from almost any lesion he gave them, so it seemed that we only need a small portion of our brain in the end. It’s ironic that this was the popular interpretation, though, since Lashley emphasized equipotentiality (that the whole brain contributed to function equally).

-MC

]]> By: P.L. http://www.neurevolution.net/2007/04/04/historys-top-brain-computation-insights-day-3/#comment-418 P.L. Wed, 04 Apr 2007 16:16:12 +0000 http://www.neurevolution.net/2007/04/04/historys-top-brain-computation-insights-day-3/#comment-418 <p>I have often suspected that the above kind of result, combined with the early stimulation studies which showed that muscle responses or sensation only occured when primary areas were stimulated, is what led to the folk psychology notion that people "only use 10% of their brain".</p> <p>-PL</p> I have often suspected that the above kind of result, combined with the early stimulation studies which showed that muscle responses or sensation only occured when primary areas were stimulated, is what led to the folk psychology notion that people "only use 10% of their brain".

-PL

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