Wednesday 7 May 2008

10 Mind Myths

Do you think our attitudes predict our behaviours?
That we are only use 10% of our brains?
That blind people's other senses are more acute?
Is a bigger brain really better?

Think again.

1 comment(s):

Chad Cloman said...

Regarding blind people. As I understand it, those who are blind from birth are able to use the extra brain tissue for their other senses, thus making better use of the sensory input as the article states.

In the psychology classes I took, I learned that there's fierce competition for available space on the surface of the brain. Those who are blind from birth (or early, early childhood) never reserve space for sight, thus leaving more space for other functions. This is also the reason why artificial eyes or corrective surgery don't really work for adults who have been blind from birth. It also explains the phantom pain felt by those who have lost limbs—the part of the brain used for that limb is slowly being taken over by other functions, which stimulate the neurons. This stimulation is interpreted as pain.