Top 10 Myths About the Brain

Essential Insights

The brain stands as one of the most remarkable organs in the human body, governing our central nervous system and enabling us to walk, talk, breathe, and think. With approximately 100 billion neurons, the brain is extraordinarily complex. Its study and treatment span multiple disciplines, including neurology, which addresses physical brain disorders; psychology, which explores behavior and mental processes; and psychiatry, which focuses on mental illnesses and disorders. These fields often overlap, and other areas of study also intersect with brain research.

These fields of study have existed in some capacity since ancient times, leading one to assume we’ve uncovered all there is to know about the brain. However, this couldn’t be further from reality. Despite millennia of research and treatment, many aspects of the brain remain shrouded in mystery. Given its complexity, we often simplify explanations about its functions to make them more digestible.

The combination of these factors has given rise to numerous brain-related myths. While most aren’t entirely baseless, they often lack the full context. Let’s explore 10 widely circulated myths about the brain, beginning with an unexpected topic: its color.

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10: Your Brain Is Gray

Have you ever considered the color of your brain? Unless you’re in the medical profession, it’s probably not something you think about often. Our bodies contain a spectrum of colors from blood, tissues, bones, and other fluids. However, preserved brains, often seen in jars in classrooms or on television, typically appear white, gray, or yellowish. In reality, the living brain inside your skull is far from monotonous—it’s a mix of white, black, and red.

This myth, like many about the brain, holds a kernel of truth. A significant portion of the brain is indeed gray, often referred to as gray matter. Agatha Christie’s iconic detective Hercule Poirot frequently mentioned using his "little gray cells." Gray matter is found throughout the brain and spinal cord, consisting of various cells, including neurons. However, the brain also contains white matter, made up of nerve fibers that link the gray matter.

The black part of the brain is known as substantia nigra, Latin for "black substance." Its color comes from neuromelanin, a specialized pigment similar to what colors skin and hair. This region is part of the basal ganglia. The red hue comes from the brain’s abundant blood vessels. So why do preserved brains look pale and lifeless? The fixatives, like formaldehyde, used for preservation, strip away the vibrant colors.

Moving from color to sound, the next myth might make you reconsider your music preferences.

9: Listening to Mozart Makes You Smarter

Tuning into a classical music station and enjoying a masterpiece by Mozart might make you feel sophisticated. Baby Einstein, a brand offering DVDs, videos, and other products for infants and toddlers, integrates classical art, music, and poetry into its offerings. This million-dollar franchise thrives because parents believe exposing their children to great art, such as Baby Mozart DVDs and CDs, enhances cognitive development. Some even play classical music to unborn babies. This belief, known as "the Mozart effect," has gained widespread popularity. But how did this idea originate?

The trend began in the 1950s when Dr. Albert Tomatis, an ear, nose, and throat specialist, claimed Mozart’s music helped individuals with speech and hearing issues. In the 1990s, a study at the University of California, Irvine, involved 36 students who listened to 10 minutes of a Mozart sonata before taking an IQ test. Dr. Gordon Shaw, the psychologist leading the study, reported an 8-point increase in the students' IQ scores, giving birth to the "Mozart effect."

Musician Dan Campbell trademarked the term and developed a series of books and CDs based on the concept. States like Georgia, Florida, and Tennessee even allocated funds to provide classical music for infants and young children. Campbell and others have further claimed that Mozart’s music can enhance overall health.

However, the original study has faced skepticism in the scientific community. Dr. Frances Rauscher, one of the researchers, clarified that the study never claimed Mozart made people smarter—it only improved performance on specific spatial-temporal tasks. Other scientists have failed to replicate the results, and there’s no conclusive evidence that Mozart or any classical music boosts intelligence. Rauscher suggested that funds might be better spent on music education programs, as learning an instrument has been shown to improve focus, confidence, and coordination.

Listening to Mozart won’t harm you, and you might even find it enjoyable, but it won’t boost your intelligence.

8: You Get New Brain Wrinkles When You Learn Something

When imagining the brain, most people visualize a rounded, two-lobed gray mass covered in folds. As humans evolved, our brains expanded to support the advanced functions distinguishing us from other species. To maintain a compact size that fits within a proportionally sized skull, the brain developed folds as it grew. If these folds, known as gyri (ridges) and sulci (crevices), were flattened, the brain would span the size of a pillowcase. These structures vary slightly between individuals, and some even have specific names.

Our brains aren’t wrinkled from the start. Early in fetal development, the brain is smooth. As the fetus grows, neurons expand and migrate, forming sulci and gyri. By 40 weeks, the brain has developed its characteristic wrinkles, though smaller in size. Learning doesn’t create new wrinkles; the folds we’re born with remain throughout life, provided the brain stays healthy.

Learning does alter our brains, but not by adding more sulci or gyri. This process is called brain plasticity. Studies on animals, such as rats, reveal that synapses (the links between neurons) and the blood cells supporting neurons grow and multiply during learning. Some theories suggest new neurons form when we create memories, but this hasn’t been confirmed in human brains.

If you’ve ever suspected hidden messages in commercials, TV shows, or films, the next myth will catch your attention.

7: You Can Learn Through Subliminal Messages

Subliminal messages tap into our suspicions about the true intentions of the government, big corporations, and media. A subliminal message (meaning below our conscious awareness) is embedded in images or sounds to influence our subconscious behavior. Market researcher James Vicary first coined the term in 1957, claiming he inserted messages into a New Jersey movie screening. These messages, flashing for 1/3000th of a second, urged viewers to drink Coca-Cola and eat popcorn.

Vicary claimed that Coke sales in the theater rose by over 18 percent and popcorn sales by more than 57 percent, supposedly proving the effectiveness of his subliminal messages. Books from the late 1950s and early 1970s detailed how advertisers could use similar techniques to influence consumer behavior. Some radio and TV ads incorporated these hidden messages, but many networks and professional organizations eventually banned them. In 1974, the FCC officially prohibited the use of subliminal advertising.

But did these messages actually work? It turns out Vicary fabricated his study’s results. Later experiments, such as one that displayed "Call now" during a Canadian TV broadcast, showed no impact on viewers. The high-profile 1990s Judas Priest trial, where families of two boys who died by suicide alleged a song contained subliminal instructions, concluded with the judge stating there was no scientific evidence to support the claim. Despite this, some still believe music and ads contain hidden directives.

Listening to self-help tapes while you sleep likely won’t harm you, but they probably won’t help you quit smoking either.

Does the size of the human brain compared to other animals’ brains make a difference? Explore our next myth to discover the answer.

6: The Human Brain Is the Biggest Brain

Many animals exhibit behaviors similar to humans, such as problem-solving, self-awareness, empathy, and tool use. Although scientists debate the exact definition of intelligence, they generally agree that humans are the most intelligent species on Earth. In a society that often equates size with superiority, one might assume humans have the biggest brains because we’re the smartest. However, this isn’t entirely accurate.

The average human brain weighs around 3 pounds (1,361 grams). Dolphins, known for their intelligence, also have brains weighing about 3 pounds. In contrast, sperm whales, which aren’t considered as intelligent as dolphins, have brains weighing approximately 17 pounds (7,800 grams). On the smaller end, a beagle’s brain weighs about 2.5 ounces (72 grams), and an orangutan’s brain is around 13 ounces (370 grams). Despite their smaller brains, both dogs and orangutans are highly intelligent.

A key observation in these comparisons is the relationship between brain size and body size. Dolphins weigh about 350 pounds (158.8 kilograms), while sperm whales can reach up to 13 tons. Generally, larger animals have larger skulls and brains. Beagles, for example, weigh around 25 pounds (11.3 kilograms), so their brains are proportionally smaller. Intelligence isn’t determined by brain weight alone but by the ratio of brain weight to body weight. For humans, this ratio is about 1-to-50, compared to 1-to-180 for most mammals and 1-to-220 for birds. This means the human brain occupies a larger proportion of body weight than in other animals.

Intelligence also depends on brain structure. Mammals possess large cerebral cortexes, unlike birds, fish, or reptiles. The cerebellum in mammals contains the cerebral hemispheres, which handle advanced functions like memory, communication, and reasoning. Humans have the largest cerebral cortex relative to brain size among all mammals, contributing to our cognitive abilities.

Brace yourself; the next brain myth is a bit more gruesome.

5: Your Brain Stays Active After You Get Decapitated

Historically, decapitation was a favored method of execution, largely due to the invention of the guillotine. While many nations have abandoned this practice, it is still used by some governments, terrorists, and other groups. Decapitation is considered the ultimate end, but how instantaneous is it? If your head were severed, could you still see or move it, even briefly?

This idea likely originated during the French Revolution, coinciding with the guillotine’s creation. On July 17, 1793, Charlotte Corday was executed by guillotine for assassinating Jean-Paul Marat, a prominent journalist, politician, and revolutionary. After the blade fell, an assistant slapped Corday’s cheek, and witnesses reported her eyes turned toward him with an indignant expression. Following this, those executed by guillotine were asked to blink, and observers claimed blinking continued for up to 30 seconds.

Another widely recounted story of post-beheading consciousness comes from 1905. French doctor Dr. Gabriel Beaurieux observed the execution of a man named Languille. He noted that immediately after the beheading, "the eyelids and lips ... moved in irregular, rhythmic contractions for about five or six seconds." Dr. Beaurieux called Languille’s name and claimed his eyelids "slowly opened without any spasms" and that "his pupils focused." This occurred a second time, but by the third call, there was no response.

These accounts seem to support the idea that consciousness might persist briefly after decapitation. However, most contemporary doctors argue that the described reactions are merely reflexive muscle movements, not conscious actions. Once severed from the heart and deprived of oxygen, the brain quickly enters a coma and begins to die. Dr. Harold Hillman states that consciousness is "likely lost within 2-3 seconds due to a rapid drop in intracranial blood flow."

While it’s not entirely impossible to remain conscious after decapitation, it’s highly unlikely. Hillman also emphasizes that the guillotine, often considered painless, is far from it. He explains that "death results from the separation of the brain and spinal cord, causing acute and potentially severe pain." This is one reason why the guillotine and beheading are no longer widely accepted methods of execution in countries with capital punishment.

If your head remains intact, it can still suffer irreversible damage. Next, let’s explore how long brain damage can persist.

4: Brain Damage Is Always Permanent

Brain damage is a terrifying prospect. Despite its complexity and wonder, the brain is surprisingly delicate and vulnerable to various injuries. Damage can result from infections, accidents, or trauma, essentially leading to the death of brain cells. For many, the term evokes images of individuals in vegetative states or enduring lifelong physical or cognitive impairments.

However, this isn’t always the outcome. Brain damage varies widely, and its impact depends on the injury’s location and severity. Mild injuries, like a concussion, often occur when the brain shifts inside the skull, causing bleeding and tearing. Remarkably, the brain can heal from minor injuries, and most people with mild brain damage don’t suffer permanent disabilities.

At the other extreme, severe brain injuries involve extensive damage, sometimes requiring surgery to remove blood clots or reduce pressure. Most survivors of severe brain injuries face permanent, irreversible consequences.

What about moderate cases? Some individuals with brain damage experience lasting disabilities but can partially recover. While damaged or lost neurons don’t regenerate, the synapses, or connections between neurons, can. The brain forms new neural pathways, and unaffected areas can take over functions previously managed by damaged regions. This process, known as brain plasticity, explains how stroke patients, for instance, can relearn speech and motor skills through therapy.

It’s crucial to remember that much about the brain remains a mystery. When someone is diagnosed with a brain injury, doctors can’t always predict the extent of recovery. Patients often defy expectations, showing remarkable progress days, months, or even years later. Not all brain damage is irreversible.

On the topic of brain damage, the next myth explores how drugs can impact our brains.

3: You Can Get Holes in Your Brain Through Drug Use

The impact of drugs on the brain is a hotly debated topic. Some argue that only extreme drug use has lasting effects, while others believe even a single use can cause long-term harm. Recent studies present conflicting views: some suggest marijuana causes minor memory loss, while others claim heavy use can shrink parts of the brain. For drugs like cocaine or Ecstasy, some even fear they can create literal holes in the brain.

In reality, only physical trauma can create holes in the brain. Researchers acknowledge that drugs can cause both short-term and long-term brain changes. For instance, drug use can reduce the effectiveness of neurotransmitters (brain chemicals that facilitate communication), such as dopamine, which is why addicts require increasing amounts of the drug to achieve the same effect. Additionally, altered neurotransmitter levels can impair neuron function. Whether these changes are reversible remains a topic of debate.

Conversely, a 2008 New Scientist study suggests that prolonged drug use can cause certain brain structures to grow, leading to permanent changes. This growth is believed to contribute to the difficulty in altering addictive behaviors.

While the long-term effects of various drugs on the brain are still under investigation, one thing is clear: No drug creates literal holes in the brain.

Next, let’s explore the specific effects of alcohol on the brain.

2: Alcohol Kills Brain Cells

A single glance at someone intoxicated is enough to confirm that alcohol directly impacts the brain. Those who drink excessively often experience slurred speech, impaired coordination, poor judgment, and other side effects. Many also endure headaches, nausea, and other unpleasant symptoms the next day—commonly known as a hangover. But does occasional weekend drinking or even sporadic heavy drinking kill brain cells? What about binge drinking or the chronic consumption seen in alcoholics?

Not exactly. Even in alcoholics, alcohol doesn’t kill brain cells. However, it can damage the ends of neurons, called dendrites, disrupting communication between them. While the neurons themselves remain intact, their ability to transmit messages is impaired. Researchers like Roberta J. Pentney, a professor of anatomy and cell biology at the University at Buffalo, suggest this damage is largely reversible.

Alcoholics may develop Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, a neurological disorder that can lead to neuron loss in certain brain areas. This condition causes memory issues, confusion, eye muscle paralysis, poor coordination, and amnesia, and can be fatal. However, the syndrome isn’t directly caused by alcohol but by a thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency. Severe alcoholics often suffer from malnutrition, and excessive drinking can hinder thiamine absorption.

While alcohol doesn’t kill brain cells, heavy drinking can still cause significant brain damage.

How much of your brain did you engage while reading this top 10 list? The next myth will shed light on this.

1: You Only Use 10 Percent of Your Brain

It’s often claimed that we only use about 10 percent of our brains. Figures like Albert Einstein and Margaret Mead have been cited as endorsing this idea. This myth is one of the most enduring, partly because it’s been perpetuated in the media for decades. Its origins are often traced to William James, an early 20th-century American psychologist, who said, "the average person rarely achieves but a small portion of his or her potential" [source: AARP]. Over time, this evolved into the belief that we only use 10 percent of our brain.

At first glance, this seems baffling. Why would humans have the largest brain-to-body ratio among animals (as discussed in myth six) if we didn’t use it fully? Many have embraced this idea, writing books and selling products claiming to unlock the remaining 90 percent. Proponents of psychic abilities like ESP argue that those with such powers have accessed the untapped parts of their brains.

However, this claim isn’t accurate. Alongside the 100 billion neurons, the brain is packed with other cell types that are constantly active. Damage to even small areas of the brain can cause significant disabilities, depending on the location, making it impossible for us to function using only 10 percent of our brain.

Brain scans reveal that our brains are always active, regardless of what we’re doing. While certain areas may be more engaged at specific times, no part of the brain is entirely inactive unless damaged. For instance, if you’re eating a sandwich at a table, you’re focused on lifting, chewing, and swallowing the sandwich. This doesn’t mean your feet are inactive—they still experience blood flow and other processes, even if you’re not moving them.