sixpenceee:

Here are some common myths debunked and other interesting facts. Enjoy learning :)

YOU USE WAY MORE THAN 10% OF YOUR BRAIN

Your brain is continuously active. There is now way we would functions using only 10% of it. Brain scans show that no matter what we are doing, our brains are active. Depending on the activity, some areas are way more active than others. But unless someone has brain damage, there isn’t an area that isn’t used. 

AFTER GETTING BEHEADED

There are stories and legends out there that say that after a guillotine execution, faces have blinked upon command and some have even scowled and expressed indignation. Are they conscious? Researchers believe that all the movement is really just reflexive twitching of the muscle and not deliberate movement.

A BIGGER BRAIN DOESN’T MEAN A SMARTER SPECIES 

A whale’s brain is WAY larger than ours. But they aren’t the dominant species. brain size doesn’t mean intelligence. But what could mean intelligence is the ration of the brain to the body. For humans it’s 1:50. For most other mammals its 1:180 and for birds 1:220.

The size of different areas is important too. Humans and mammals in general have a large cerebral cortex (higher function, learning and memory) unlike birds, fish, or reptiles.

WHY CAN’T YOU TICKLE YOURSELF?

You can blame that because of the cerebellum in your brain. It monitors our movements and can distinguish between unexpected & expected sensations. It’s important for you to pay attention to the outside world and not have your brain drowned by the daily sensations of you touching your arm or noticing the texture of your socks.

YAWNING WAKES UP YOUR BRAIN

You might associate yawning with sleepiness and boredom, but it actually wakes up the brain.The action itself expands our windpipe, allowing air into the lungs and oxygen into the blood, making us more alert.Think of yawns as your body’s attempt to reach full alertness in situations that require it.

SOURCE & SOURCE & SOURCE

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ADVICE FOR SOMEONE CONSIDERING A NEUROSCIENCE MAJOR