Lucy: Debunking the 10 percent brain myth

"It is estimated most human beings use only 10 percent of the brain’s capacity.” Morgan Freeman pronounced it in his God-like voice so it must be true, right?

Definitely not, says Emory neurologist Krish Sathian. The premise of the new sci-fi movie “Lucy,” starring Freeman and Scarlett Johansson, is based on a widespread, lingering myth that we tap into only a tiny fraction of our neurons.

“We are probably using all of our brain much of the time, and much of our brain all of the time,” Sathian says. “Even when you’re engaged in a task, and some neurons are engaged in that task, the rest of your brain is occupied doing other things. That’s why, for example, the solution to a problem can emerge after you haven’t been thinking about it for a while, or after a night’s sleep. That’s because your brain’s constantly active.”

Watch the above video, part of the Emory Looks at Hollywood series, to learn more.

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