6 Frequently Quoted Facts About The Brain That Are Totally False

http://www.cracked.com/article_19370_the-6-most-frequently-quoted-brain-facts-that-are-total-bs.html

This is by far one of the most interesting and reassuring articles I have ever read. I do jujitsu and sometimes don't break my falls properly and its nice to know that this isn't making my brain worse. Note that although the myth stated in 5 is wrong, the reasoning is also wrong as explained in some if the comments. Some (or maybe all) of these are common sense and I got a "well, duh" feeling when reading some of the points, but this is still funny as hell and enjoyable to read so go ahead anyway.

For those who don't want to read the article (which I strongly recommend for giggles), this summarises it:

6. 'Alcohol kills brain cells!'

One the main arguments for this myth states that dopiness from bring drunk is caused from dead or dying cells, but alcohol rather blocks them from doing their work and inhibits cognitive and motor function.

5. 'You Can't Regrow Brain Cells - Once They're Gone, They're Gone!'

The brain is good at fixing itself as it contains a large number of stem cells. In fact, there are more in an adult. It won't survive cumulative concussion or major attacks but as the article says, give it a little credit!

4. 'Drugs Like Ecstasy Can Put Holes In Your Brain!'

On a neurological scan of the brian of someone on ecstasy, the holes were just areas with lower blood circulation and not cavitites as they may have looked in the image and had little to do with the drug itself. If anything, it's dehydration that kills most who take the drug without care. If you want to take the drug, do so but just remember to drink plenty of water.

3. 'I'm Getting Older, so My Mind Isn't What It Used to Be.'

Brains get sharper with age and older people are better at problems solving but also have a sheer amount of information which accounts for their apparent stupidity.

2. 'You Get New Brain Wrinkles When You Learn Stuff.'

The idea being that your brain increases in surface area to accommodate for extra brain cells, despite the fact that your brain is just as wrinkly upon being born and remains that way throughout your life.

1. 'Whoa, He's Smart! Check Out the Big Brain On That Guy!'

Yeah, this one is pretty obvious. Do you see whales or elephants doing secretarial work? Enough said, really. But read this point anyway because it's funny.

cracked articles have gotten incredibly stale.

basically the same jokes over and over again.

anyway i was expecting the fact about people saying "we only use 10% of our brain"

Change your font color. People with the white background can't read it. LZ71

anyway i was expecting the fact about people saying "we only use 10% of our brain"

biohaznerd

So was I. Kind of disappointed...

Change your font color. People with the white background can't read it. LZ71

cracked articles have gotten incredibly stale.

basically the same jokes over and over again.

anyway i was expecting the fact about people saying "we only use 10% of our brain"

biohaznerd

[QUOTE="kendouken"]those are good facts... too bad only a few people know itGazaAli

Touché

I guess some may have some truth behind them though

Some of those are misleading. "You can't regrow brain cells" doesn't really specify which cell. When most people think of brain cells, they are thinking of gray matter - cortex cells. Those cells do not regrow. However, brain cells can refer to a vast variety of cells - some of which do reproduce.

Some of those are misleading. "You can't regrow brain cells" doesn't really specify which cell. When most people think of brain cells, they are thinking of gray matter - cortex cells. Those cells do not regrow. However, brain cells can refer to a vast variety of cells - some of which do reproduce.

sonicare

[QUOTE="LZ71"]Change your font color. People with the white background can't read it. MushroomWig

*raises hand*

at first i though it was just a blank post til i read the second post:P

Amen to Number 3.

If anything, it's dehydration that kills most who take the drug without care.

Spitfirer

It amazing how so many people don't know this. Why do you think all those people at trance shows/festivals have water bottles? Not because its hot or their exhausted, but because they need to keep hydrated while the E does its work.

1 more to add to that list is "You can only use 10% of your brain"... while true it doesn't mean we don't you use the other 90% percent, its just that different parts of the brain do different things and so far nothing we do requires more than several parts of the brain which is roughly 10% of it. You can never use every part of the brain at the same time because you just don't need to.Grey_Eyed_Elf

Sometimes something you hear about the brain and are pretty sure it's completely false turns out to be true. My favorite brain anomaly I once thought was fiction is a condition called Alien Hand Syndrome, in which one of your hands takes on a life of its own, doing rather direct non-random things you apparently aren't conscious of.

I liked point #6.

...and yuck why would you have it on white. It would be easier for you to just click the little box up the top there.cheese_game619

I've always used the white background. For as long as I can remember actually.

your brain gets smaller as you get older, thats why you die of old age, one day it just pops out of your ear... true story. :P