Talk:List of misconceptions about the brain

Intelligence and brain activity
Concerning the theory about more efficient neural circuits, a few months ago I ran into a study that gave more "intelligent" problem solvers more difficult problems. Their brains changed to show the same pattern of activity as the less effective groups with easier problems. More specifically, they found that the problems they gave superior problem solvers in earlier experiments were not difficult enough. When difficulty is controlled we see similar patterns of brain activity. Munkbob (talk) 00:59, 20 February 2009 (UTC)
 * Um, what does this have to do with the article? Looie496 (talk) 01:03, 20 February 2009 (UTC)

Some people propose that the Gut has a brain
Some people propose that the Gut has a brain, if this is true what proportion of cognitive capacity does it share with the head brain? Could my dog be smarter than my gut brain ?? 79.76.134.180 (talk) 15:57, 13 March 2009 (UTC)


 * The Enteric Nervous System (ENS) that you mentioned contains 100 million neurons and is called a second brain because it can operate independently from the head brain (CNS), although it's regulated by it through hormones and nerves. It's arranged to process signals related to food digestion and poison control, etc. It's not organised in a way to produce thought, so no, your dog is far smarter.  Perhaps it would be good to add the ENS in this article, as the gut's nervous system is thought to be part of the gastrointestinal system, when really, it's derived from ectoderm, and so is part of the nervous system.  We should add that despite this, the 'second brain' is nothing like the main brain. 86.25.188.240 (talk) 19:44, 1 September 2010 (UTC)

There actually can be holes in the brain
Yes, it is true that a lesion is not a hole, but an inactive area. However, holes can be made in the brain from diseases such as the transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. Someone fix this, I don't know how.--Grouphug (talk) 23:33, 5 December 2009 (UTC)

Also, wouldn't brain ventricles containing CSF technically be considered holes? Unless I am severely over thinking this. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 137.99.95.19 (talk) 22:48, 13 December 2009 (UTC)
 * Yes that's certainly true (the part about ventricles, not the over-thinking part!). --Tryptofish (talk) 22:51, 13 December 2009 (UTC)

Common Misconceptions
Couldn't this article be included in the list of common misconceptions article and removed from here? It is quite small and almost undeserving of its own space. Andrew Colvin (talk) 23:25, 26 April 2010 (UTC)


 * Yes. Merge, and in the process remove all the unsourced non-misconceptions from here. --hippo43 (talk) 23:37, 26 April 2010 (UTC)


 * I think that's a good idea. Obviously, this page has problems as it is now, and this would probably be the best way to resolve them. --Tryptofish (talk) 18:10, 27 April 2010 (UTC)

Glial cells
From the glial cell article: "In the human brain, there is roughly one glia for every neuron with a ratio of about two neurons for every three glia in the cerebral gray matter." From this article: "Another possible origin of the misconception is that only 10% of the cells in the brain are neurons; the rest are glial cells that, despite being involved in learning, do not function in the same way that neurons do." The numbers do not match. One of these must be wrong. 21:33, 19 June 2010 (UTC) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 77.96.228.232 (talk)
 * I'm pretty sure it's around 10 to 1, so this sounds like it's Glia. --Tryptofish (talk) 21:39, 19 June 2010 (UTC)

Did Einstein say seriously or facetiously (if at all) that people only use 10% of their brains ?
The article says :

"Einstein is reported as quipping that people typically only use 10% of their brains. The popular press took this as fact, although the comment was meant only facetiously. "

The given reference doesn't confirm the assertion. Marvoir (talk) 15:49, 20 October 2010 (UTC)
 * You know, this is just another case of this page turning out to be a mess. A merger was suggested above. I'm going to propose it formally. --Tryptofish (talk) 21:09, 20 October 2010 (UTC)

Merger proposal
This page has long been troubled. Let's just merge it into List of common misconceptions. --Tryptofish (talk) 21:09, 20 October 2010 (UTC)
 * That's certainly fine by me. Looie496 (talk) 21:36, 20 October 2010 (UTC)
 * Support The good stuff here would easily fit into that article. Edhubbard (talk) 23:47, 20 October 2010 (UTC)

I'm going ahead with it. --Tryptofish (talk) 23:02, 1 November 2010 (UTC)