Great Myths of the Brain

1. The Brain's History: From Heart to Neurons

“As humans, we can identify galaxies light years away, we can study particles smaller than an atom. But we still haven't unlocked the mystery of the three pounds of matter that sits between our ears.”

Cardiocentric view. For centuries, ancient civilizations believed that the heart, not the brain, was the seat of thought and emotion. Figures like Aristotle championed this view, citing the heart's centrality and warmth as evidence. The Egyptians, despite recognizing the effects of brain injury, discarded the brain during mummification, preserving the heart instead.

Encephalocentric view. Philosophers like Alcmaeon and Hippocrates challenged the cardiocentric view, correctly identifying the brain as the source of sensations and thoughts. The Alexandrian anatomists furthered this understanding through human dissections, identifying sensory and motor nerves. Galen's public demonstrations, such as severing a pig's recurrent laryngeal nerve, provided experimental evidence for the brain's control of behavior.

Animal spirits. Even after the brain's importance was recognized, the concept of "animal spirits" persisted. Galen believed these spirits, created in the brain's ventricles, were pumped through the nerves to enable movement and sensation. This idea, endorsed by figures like Descartes, was only debunked in the 17th century with the rise of electrical experimentation, which demonstrated that nerves communicate via electrical impulses.

2. Debunked Brain Practices: Trepanation, Phrenology, and Lobotomy

“apparently, unknown to many of these historians Bosch's painting and derivatives by Bruegel and others, were based on a very real medical practice of their time.”

Trepanning. This ancient practice of drilling holes in the skull, used to release evil spirits or relieve pressure, has roots in prehistoric times. While sometimes beneficial for head injuries, its use was often based on mythical beliefs. Today, self-trepanation persists among some, fueled by scientifically unfounded claims of enhanced consciousness.

Phrenology. Developed by Franz Joseph Gall, phrenology claimed that personality traits could be discerned from skull bumps. Though popular in the 19th century, it was debunked by scientific experimentation. However, phrenology contributed to the understanding that the cortex was made up of functionally distinct areas.

Lobotomy. The frontal lobotomy, a brutal procedure that involved severing connections in the frontal lobes, was once used to treat mental illness. Despite initial claims of success, the procedure often resulted in severe side effects and is now largely discredited. Modern psychosurgery has evolved into more precise techniques like deep brain stimulation, but the legacy of lobotomy serves as a cautionary tale.

3. Mythical Case Studies: Gage, Tan, and Molaison

“The equilibrium or balance, so to speak, between his intellectual faculties and his animal propensities, seems to have been destroyed.”

Phineas Gage. The story of Phineas Gage, the railway worker who survived an iron rod piercing his brain, is often cited as evidence that personality resides in the frontal lobes. However, recent research suggests that Gage made a significant psychosocial recovery and that the initial reports of his dramatic personality change were exaggerated.

Tan. Monsieur Leborgne, nicknamed "Tan," lost his ability to speak due to damage in Broca's area of the left frontal lobe. Broca's study of Tan helped establish the link between language production and the frontal lobes, overturning the idea that language was distributed throughout the brain. Modern scans of Tan's brain reveal that the damage was more extensive than Broca realized, challenging the notion of strict localization of function.

Henry Molaison (H.M.). Henry Molaison, known as H.M., underwent surgery to alleviate his epilepsy, resulting in severe anterograde amnesia. His case revolutionized the understanding of memory, demonstrating the importance of the hippocampus in forming new long-term memories. While H.M.'s case has been immensely influential, some experts caution against overemphasizing the hippocampus's role, as his brain damage extended beyond this structure.

4. Immortal Myths: Ten Percent Usage and Right-Brain Creativity

“Professor William James of Harvard used to say that the average person develops only 10 percent of his latent mental ability.”

Ten percent myth. The persistent myth that we only use 10 percent of our brains is false. Brain scans show activity throughout the entire brain, even during sleep. The myth likely originated from misinterpretations of early neuroscience research and has been perpetuated by self-help gurus and popular culture.

Right-brain creativity. The idea that right-brained people are more creative is an oversimplification. While the brain hemispheres have different strengths, creativity involves complex interactions between both sides. The myth has been exploited by self-help gurus and business consultants, but there is no scientific basis for the claim that some people are dominated by one hemisphere.

The need for skepticism. These immortal myths persist due to their intuitive appeal and exploitation by those with an agenda. Critical thinking and a skeptical approach are essential for distinguishing between neurobunk and real neuroscience.

5. Gendered Brains: Debunking Sex-Based Myths

“Women tend to be more right brained, but we have a bridge between the right and left brain that men do not have.”

Balanced female brains. The idea that women's brains are more balanced and use both hemispheres more effectively is a myth. Studies have found no significant differences in language lateralization or corpus callosum size between men and women. These claims are often used to reinforce gender stereotypes.

Hyperactive mirror neurons. The claim that women have more active mirror neurons, leading to heightened empathy, is not supported by evidence. Studies on empathy have shown mixed results, and there is no scientific basis for the assertion that women have more or more active mirror neurons.

Brain wiring differences. A 2013 study claimed to find fundamental differences in brain wiring between men and women, with men having more connectivity within hemispheres and women having more connectivity across hemispheres. However, these differences were small, and the researchers' interpretations were based on gender stereotypes.

6. Technology and the Brain: Hype vs. Reality

“The technology used by No Lie MRI represents the first and only direct measure of truth verification and lie detection in human history!”

Brain scan lie detection. The claim that brain scans can accurately detect lies is an overstatement. While fMRI can identify brain activity associated with deception, these techniques are not foolproof and can be easily circumvented. The use of brain scans in legal settings remains controversial.

Internet-induced stupidity. The fear that the Internet is making us stupid is a recurring theme. While the Internet can be distracting and lead to information overload, it also offers opportunities for learning and cognitive enhancement. The key is to use technology mindfully and avoid excessive multitasking.

Brain training games. The promise that brain training games can make you smarter is often exaggerated. While these games can improve performance on specific tasks, there is limited evidence that they lead to far-reaching cognitive benefits in real life. Physical exercise, learning new skills, and socializing remain the most effective ways to train your brain.

7. Perception and Reality: More Than Five Senses

“Men ought to know that from the brain and the brain only, arise our pleasures, joys, laughter and jests, as well as our sorrows, pains, griefs and tears”

The five senses. The idea that humans have only five senses is a misconception. In addition to sight, smell, hearing, touch, and taste, we have proprioception (awareness of body position), equilibrioception (balance), thermoception (temperature), nociception (pain), and interoception (internal body states).

Brain's construction of reality. The brain does not passively receive information from the senses but actively constructs our perception of reality. This construction involves filling in gaps, making predictions, and embellishing sensory input. Illusions and sensory distortions reveal the brain's active role in shaping our experience.

Attention and perception. Our limited attentional resources mean that we miss much of what is happening around us. Phenomena like inattentional blindness demonstrate that we only perceive what we pay attention to, and our brains actively filter out irrelevant information.

8. Brain Disorders: Separating Fact from Fiction

“That troubled brain is at peace.”

Brain injury recovery. The myth of complete recovery from severe brain injury is misleading. While rehabilitation can improve function, most patients experience lasting deficits. The severity and location of the injury, as well as individual factors, influence the extent of recovery.

Epilepsy and mental illness. The misconception that epilepsy is a mental illness persists despite scientific evidence to the contrary. Epilepsy is a neurological condition characterized by recurring seizures. While people with epilepsy may experience mental health problems, these are often related to the stigma of the illness or side effects of medication.

Dementia and Alzheimer's. Alzheimer's disease is the leading cause of dementia, but dementia is a general term for a decline in mental function. Alzheimer's is not an inevitable part of aging, and there are many other causes of dementia, including vascular disease and frontotemporal degeneration.

9. The Body-Brain Connection: Embodied Cognition

“The hypothesis here at ITAG has been that making a [sic] opening in the skull favorably alters movement of blood through the brain and improves brain functions which are more important than ever before in history to adapt to an ever more rapidly changing world.”

Disembodied brain. The idea that the brain operates independently of the body is a misconception. The body influences our emotions, thoughts, and moral judgments. Embodied cognition explores the ways in which bodily sensations and movements shape our mental processes.

Gut-brain axis. The gut contains a complex network of neurons that communicate with the brain via the vagus nerve. Signals from the gut can influence mood, decision-making, and even social behavior. The gut microbiome, the community of microorganisms living in our intestines, also plays a role in brain function.

Placebo and nocebo effects. Our beliefs and expectations can have a powerful influence on our physical health. The placebo effect demonstrates how inert treatments can trigger real physiological changes, while the nocebo effect shows how negative expectations can worsen symptoms.

Last updated: March 18, 2025