Animal brain usage

[haywire]

Hey, I have a question that I've been wondering about for a while.

Do animals use only a small percentage of their brains, like humans. Or do they use it all-ish?

If they do use it all, why is that, from an evolutionists perspective?

[NakedApe]

Hey, I have a question that I've been wondering about for a while.

Do animals use only a small percentage of their brains, like humans. Or do they use it all-ish?

If they do use it all, why is that, from an evolutionists perspective?

It's a myth that humans only use a small percentage of their brains. See:

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=people-only-use-10-percent-of-brain

As for animals, well I suppose it's reasonable to assume that like us they use the whole thing.

From an evolutionists perspective? I'm not a scientist but from what I've read it appears that because the brain consumes a lot of energy it makes sense not to have any "wasted" segments sapping energy and reducing an organism's chances of surviving and reproducing.

Reading is a good thing. I suggest you try it. ;)

[Atrax Robustus]

Hey, I have a question that I've been wondering about for a while.

Do animals use only a small percentage of their brains, like humans. Or do they use it all-ish?

If they do use it all, why is that, from an evolutionists perspective?

Notwithstanding the fact that I absolutely detest the term - I have to accept that it is gaining common usage . . .

Why the need for an Evolutionist's perspective - you do realise that there is no professional field entitled evolutionist, don't you?

Why would you come to an atheist forum to get n answer to this question, shouldn't you be asking for the opinion of someone who is qualified to answer your question - like a neurobiologist or neurochemist?

There's plenty of resources available in the library, bookstore or internet sites (that aren't full of creo/ID comedy pages), where you could get an answer.

Here in the real world (where fantasy stories are easily recognised as such) we don't put the opinion of high school science teachers over the demonstrated facts discovered and demonstrated repeatedly by specialists in their respective fields. That would be silly wouldn't it?

@ all forum members. . . . I don't mean to imply that there is no-one on the forum who is qualified to answer haywire's question.

[atheist_angel]

Hey, I have a question that I've been wondering about for a while.

Do animals use only a small percentage of their brains, like humans. Or do they use it all-ish?

If they do use it all, why is that, from an evolutionists perspective?
I have no idea what an 'evolutionist' is. Nor do I understand why you think humans use 'only a small percentage' of their brain(s). Is this something they taught in church? Because, it's not in the bible...

[haywire]

Woa, hey, ok. Well I know now not to ask any questions on this forum without first knowing everything. Thanks NakedApe for the reference.

[atheist_angel]

Woa, hey, ok. Well I know now not to ask any questions on this forum without first knowing everything. Thanks NakedApe for the reference.
Nah... not 'everything'.

Don't feel like you're being singled out. We talk to one another this way all the time.
Look through some other threads. You'll see. ;)

Facts are important. We try to keep them straight. :cool:

[Atrax Robustus]

Some of us, however, are not as congenial as atheist angel . . .

If you ask questions seeking an evolutionist's position, it immediately implies a premise that the creo/IDers have something valid to say on the matter. In cases such as this - you can anticipate that some of us are likely to spare no effort in demonstrating that they - and potentially you - are manifestly wrong.

If the tone of some of the responses are going to make you uncomfortable - I make no apologies for those that will come from me. :cool:

[Sir Patrick Crocodile]

I think I know some people who use only a small percentage of their brains...

[atheist_angel]

I don't recommend making a list. Too many terabytes...

[wolty]

I think I know some people who use only a small percentage of their brains...


Hehehe Well said.:D

Reminds me of a t-shirt I saw once.

I see dumb people

Made me smile.

[Twizzle]

Hey, I have a question that I've been wondering about for a while.

Do animals use only a small percentage of their brains, like humans. Or do they use it all-ish?

If they do use it all, why is that, from an evolutionists perspective?


As others have mentioned, this is a misconception. Humans (and animals) actually use all their brains. The stuff that isn't used for thinking and cognative processes is generally used for stuff like keepng your organs working and all that unconcious stuff that keeps us alive and kicking.

From my understanding human brains are quite similar to other mammals except that they are larger (in a ratio with the rest of their body) and so have more room to devote to the thinking side of things, and they have more neural connections.

If we are going to look at these differences through the lense of (basic!) evolutionary theory, I'd say it's because humans use their intellect and thinking and all that as a survival technique, as we don't have many natural defenses. Most other animals have evolved ways to survive, ours just happens to be our brains. There's probably a few more reasons too :p

Hope this answers your question!

Note: if this doesn't make much sense or have heaps of typos, it's because I'm drunk. Had my last exam today I'm free until next year wooooo!!!! :D

[wearestardust]

Woa, hey, ok. Well I know now not to ask any questions on this forum without first knowing everything. Thanks NakedApe for the reference.

Well the problem is more that you are merely the latest in the stream of theists who launch themselves into the forum hoping to make a big splash by saying something to the effect of "hey, atheists, here's this problem with evolution! How about that, huh? Suck on that!".

You're also merely the latest in the stream of theists who having done that, gets the response "meh" in some form or another, and who then gets all indignant about being swatted down for their rude behaviour.

If you want a discussion of evolution from a religious perspective, perhaps rather than raising here on an atheist forum, try christianforums.com. That's a Christian forum which is not based around a particular view of evolution (as opposed, say, to answers in genesis), and accepts viewpoints from a range of christians. They also have a subforum on evolution. I think you will find that most of the christians posting on that forum think that anti-evolutionists are kinda whacko. Why don't you go and bug them?

[TÐöer]

Looking back at the OP...

"hey, atheists, here's this problem with evolution! How about that, huh? Suck on that!"

I think that best describes it.

The OP statement was more of an insult, then an actual inquiry. It was incoherent; might explain the nickname (haywire).

[TÐöer]

SPNAK! SPNAK! SPNAK! ;)