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Module 1.4b

the phantom ringing (“tinnitus”) sound experienced by people with hearing loss is — if
heard in one ear — associated with activity in the temporal lobe on the brain’s opposite side
( Muhlnickel, 1998 ).

Association Areas
So far, we have pointed out small cortical areas that either receive sensory input or direct
muscular output. Together, these occupy about one-fourth of the human brain’s thin,
wrinkled cover. What, then, goes on in the remaining vast regions of the cortex? In these association areas areas of
association areas, neurons are busy with higher mental functions — many of the tasks that the cerebral cortex that are not
make us human. involved in primary motor or
Electrically probing an association area won’t trigger any observable response. So, unlike sensory functions, but rather
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the somatosensory and motor areas, association area functions cannot be neatly mapped. are involved in higher mental
functions such as learning,
Does this mean we don’t use them — or that, as some 4 in 10 people agreed in two surveys, remembering, thinking, and
“We use only 10 percent of our brains” ( Furnham, 2018 ; Macdonald et al., 2017 )? (See the speaking.
Copyright © Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers.
Developing Arguments feature: Do We Use Only 10 Percent of Our Brain?)

®
AP Science Practice Developing Arguments

Do We Use Only 10 Percent of Our Brain?
1 1 Electrically probing an association 2 This vast association area 3

area leads to no observable response.
“silence” has led to the false
claim that we really use only Is there really
10 percent of our brain — a 90 percent
“one of the hardiest weeds in chance that a bullet to your brain
the garden of psychology.” 1 would land in an unused area?
4 Brain-damaged animals and humans bear witness: No.

Association areas interpret, integrate, and act on sensory information
and link it with stored memories. More intelligent animals have larger
association areas.
Motor areas
Association areas
Somatosensory areas

Cat
Rat Cat Chimpanzee Human
Cat
Human
Chimpanzee
Human
1. McBurney, 1996, p. 44.
Developing Arguments Questions
1. Using scientifically derived evidence, explain why the idea that we use 2. Before reading the evidence presented here, were you under the
only 10 percent of our brain is a myth. impression that we use only around 10 percent of our brain? Identify the
reasoning you found most compelling in refuting this myth.
1. McBurney, 1996, p. 44.

Association areas are found in all four brain lobes. The prefrontal cortex in the forward
part of the frontal lobes enables judgment, planning, social interactions, and processing of
new memories. People with damage to this area may have high intelligence test scores and
great cake-baking skills. Yet they would not be able to plan ahead to begin baking a cake for
a birthday party ( Huey et al., 2006 ). If they did begin to bake, they might forget the recipe

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